Jackie Nickerson's latest series of portraiture, entitled 'TERRAIN,' depicts laborers posing within their working environments. Curiously, however, Nickerson has decided to conceal the workers identities by shielding their faces with various pieces of equipment. This tactic offers viewers an unbiased opportunity for artistic and personal reflection.
Nickerson, who has made a career of examining and photographing environments in sub-Saharan Africa, explains the project by saying,“TERRAIN is about us in the landscape, how we change the world we inhabit at every moment of our being human, and how, for better and for worse, the world that we make in turn changes who we are.”
This series provides a powerful commentary on the nature of identity, landscape and commodity, emphasizing that the relationship between these elements results in very real consequences.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Identity Concealment
- Exploring the use of anonymity in portraiture as a means of encouraging unbiased reflection and sparking conversations about identity.
- Laborer Representation
- Highlighting the lives and working environments of laborers to raise awareness and promote empathy towards their experiences.
- Human-environment Interaction
- Examining the reciprocal relationship between humans and their surroundings, emphasizing the impact of human activities on the environment.
Where This Applies
- Photography
- Opportunities for photographers to experiment with unconventional techniques and concepts, such as anonymity and social commentary in portraiture.
- Documentary Film
- Creating compelling documentaries that shed light on the lives of laborers and explore the complexities of identity in relation to the environment.
- Social Activism
- Engaging in advocacy and awareness campaigns that aim to address social issues, promote empathy, and create positive change for laborers and the environment.
