I went to the Haggerty Museum....

And I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This is most definitely because it was an exhibition not only on photography (which happens to be right up my alley), but had a particular human interest focus (which is even further up my alley).

The Truth is Not in the Mirror exhibit featured several photographers that I took a great interest in. I hadn't heard of or seen any of their work or names before, as I've never been one to pursue other artists work with much voracity at all. This fact only curated my curiosity and fascination at the photographs exhibited, and made my visit there that much more enjoyable.

Specifically, my attention was mostly captivated by Tina Barney, Larry Sultan, Rineke Dijkstra, The Satorialist, and Alec Soth. Their portraits dealt with “inside looks” into their own personal cultures and/or ideals. Many if not most have some sort of passage of time theme as well, which is something that I connect with very strongly. I consider nostalgia to be one of the most basic of human emotions and very much appreciated how portraits like Dijkstra's Tiergarten series and Barney's Marina and Peter sequence document not only physical growth and age, but incorporate strong emotional aspects as well.

Tiergarten, 1998 (L) Tiergarten, 2003 (R)

Both works deal with the graduation of girl to womanhood, a rather turbulent time (to say the least) for any female - whether captured on film or not. I suppose this has a personal affect on me not only because of similar subject interest, but also because it was an experience that I myself went through.

Marina's Room, 1987

However, because of the compositions and content of the images, it is suffice to say that almost anyone – male or female, young or old – could grasp the concepts and motives in the photographs through the emotionally charged facial expressions and body language that is so artfully framed by the respective photographer. Similarly, Larry Sultan also works in a sentimentally themed area in his photograph, Mom Posing for Me.

Mom Posing for Me, 1984

Although this portrait doesn't deal directly with a coming of age type of an idea, it does have a reminiscent feeling. The way the two figures in the photograph are posed is a large component of the theme, as it depicts not only their relationship with the photographer, who is their son in this case, but also between themselves. Even the title influences the view – it is “Mom” posing, not “Mom and Dad”, despite “dad” being in picture as well. Body language is another key to unlocking this photo, and it is clear that we as viewers are supposed to focus on “mom”, despite her resigned and even somewhat timid stature. I have no doubt that this is commentary on Sultan's view towards his parents – the ever present maternal figure and the distant, preoccupied father.