Nancy 1986

Editor: Here we have Volker Seding’s "Nancy," a gelatin silver print from 1986. It’s a portrait, stark and in black and white, and the direct gaze feels…confrontational, almost unsettling. What do you make of it? Curator: Oh, unsettling is spot on. There's a dreamlike quality, isn't there? The almost ethereal lightness of her face, contrasted with the dark clothing and the severe backdrop… it reminds me of those uncanny portraits you find in old family albums. Editor: That's interesting, what do you mean by "uncanny portraits?" Curator: You know, the ones where the subjects seem to be staring right *through* you, captured at a moment of extreme self-awareness, or perhaps vulnerability. I wonder if Seding was trying to explore the performance of identity, especially through the lens of photographic portraiture? Editor: Performance of identity...interesting. I guess she doesn't look like she's smiling for the camera. Curator: Exactly! No forced smiles here. There's a certain resistance, perhaps, to the traditional portrait's pressure to present a perfectly polished image. Instead, we are left with a glimpse into something rawer, more intimate. Almost as if she's guarding a secret. Do you see what secrets you can detect? Editor: Maybe a bit of sadness. Something held back. Looking at it that way...makes me want to ask her what she’s thinking. Curator: Absolutely. And isn't that the magic of art? A simple photograph sparking a conversation across time and space, fueled by our own projections and interpretations. It becomes a mirror reflecting not only the subject but also ourselves. Editor: Well, I'll definitely look at portraits differently now! Thanks.