Her Take:
(Re)Thinking Masculinity
BY THE SEVEN OF VII
Her Take: (Re)Thinking Masculinity is an exhibition in seven parts by the Seven of VII, the seven female photographers of VII. Each photographer is undertaking a visual reflection on masculinity — re-framing it, challenging it, referencing it historically, exploring it, considering it in specific cultural contexts and changing social conventions, or coming out from the shadow of it. This exhibition grows from the photographers’ participation in the volatile contemporary debate about gender, power and representation, and the platform that gives them to help build a constructive dialogue in the photography world.
Anush Babajanyan, Jessica Dimmock, Linda Bournane Engelberth, Ilvy Njiokiktjien, Nichole Sobecki, Maggie Steber, and Sara Terry are the Seven of VII, the seven female members of VII Photo Agency. They work in documentary, reportage and fine art, and are based in Armenia, the Netherlands, Norway and the United States.
Photo by Maggie Steber / VII.
Her Take: (Re)Thinking Masculinity is on view at PHOTOVILLE in Brooklyn Bridge Park from September 13 – 23.
The Projects
My New Himself
Anush Babajanyan
In this series, Anush makes an effort to understand the unexplored reality of being a man, by picturing herself dressed in the outfits of men she knows well.
SEE MORE FROM THIS PROJECT
Outside the Binary
Linda Bournane Engelberth
This project explores the world of people who see themselves as non-binary, and use the pronoun “they.”
SEE MORE FROM THIS PROJECT
BRICK
Jessica Dimmock
A portrait series that places senior transgender women in the places in which they hid their female identities for decades. The project explores what it takes for this older group of women to leave masculinity behind.
SEE MORE FROM THIS PROJECT
To Be Us
Ilvy Njiokiktjien
In this series Ilvy photographs widowers and their children in the hope of shedding light on both the challenges these families face, and also the new bond that forms between the fathers and their children.
SEE MORE FROM THIS PROJECT
afriMAN
Nichole Sobecki
afriMAN is an exploration of evolving understandings of manhood on the African continent, and how traditional expectations are being subverted by individuals.
SEE MORE FROM THIS PROJECT
Men Born From Blossoms
Maggie Steber
From Steber’s Guggenheim work, “The Secret Garden of Lily LaPalma,” a magical series of portraits of men of varying ages and sexual orientations photographed with flowers.
SEE MORE FROM THIS PROJECT
(Re)Thinking the Male Gaze
Sara Terry
A series of large-scale photographs which re-create famous historical paintings of nude women by men, re-contextualized in light of the current debate on gender and power.
SEE MORE FROM THIS PROJECT
More Information
For more information about this project, please contact:
Anush Babajanyan: [email protected]
Sara Terry: [email protected]
Nichole Sobecki: [email protected]
Photoville is located in Brooklyn Bridge Plaza, on the corners of Water Street and New Dock Street. It is directly underneath the Brooklyn Bridge in DUMBO and bordered by Jane’s Carousel and St. Ann’s Warehouse.
Thank You
The Seven of VII would like to thank these generous donors for making this exhibition possible: The Freedom of Expression Foundation (Norway), Suzie Katz in honor of PhotoWings, VII Foundation, Anonymous Donor, Jean Karotkin, Ed Kashi, Joan Morgenstern, Gay Block, Mindy Grossman, Julie Fajgenbaum, Amy Yenkin, Rachel Cobb and the LA Center for Photography.
