Tourism: Laurie's Show 1983

Laurie Simmons made this gelatin silver print, "Tourism: Laurie's Show," by setting up a scene with dolls in front of photographs. I can just imagine Laurie carefully positioning those dolls, maybe even talking to them, figuring out how to stage this meta-commentary on art and spectatorship. It's like she's building a miniature world within a world, poking fun at the whole idea of going to an art show. The monochromatic palette gives it a timeless feel, but it also flattens the space, making the dolls and the photos they’re looking at feel like they’re all part of the same plane. There's a playful element in the staging, a quiet nod to the absurdity of it all. It's a reminder that art is often about seeing ourselves seeing, and questioning what it all means.