The stark black and white image depicts a young woman lying on a surface, her face partially obscured as she holds a gun pointed directly at the viewer. The intense, confrontational gaze and the dramatic lighting create a sense of tension and unease. The artwork's style and techniques evoke a sense of raw energy and psychological depth, inviting the viewer to consider the underlying emotions and narratives behind the provocative subject matter. Without identifying the individual, the piece seems to explore themes of vulnerability, power, and the human condition in a bold and thought-provoking manner. ...
Richard Kern, photographer and filmmaker remains, first and foremost, a portraitist. For more than two decades Kern has sought to unravel and illuminate the complex and often darker sides of human nature. Kern makes the psychological space between the sitter, photographer and audience his subject. With his dry, matter of fact approach, he underlines the absurdity of truth and objectivity in photography while playing with our reliance upon taxonomies around sexual representation.
Kern is a regular contributor to The Face, Dazed, Numero, Vice and Purple and has published 28 books. His films and photographs have been exhibited at MoMA, The Whitney Museum and in more than 50 solo shows around the world. ...
