Since its inception in the nineteenth century, photography has been used as the ultimate documentary tool. Anthropological photography, images which document people, history and change for the purpose of providing evidence for record keeping, utilised the camera in a manner which was significantly different to that of traditional portraiture. Whilst the latter captures the character and physicality of its subjects in a flattering light, anthropological photography is impersonal and, in the case of ethnographic photography or scientific records, incredibly dehumanising. However, within the contemporary art scene, moves have been made to reclaim the anthropological photograph, allowing a re-presentation of marginalised groups pushed to the outside of society’s consciousness. American photographer Kerry Mansfield and Brazilian photographer Gustavo Lacerda use the camera as a tool to document conditions that are so often stigmatised and marginalised, and re-present them with honesty and dignity. No longer hidden from view, their unorthodox portraits expose a poignant and compelling version of the human condition that is neither scientific nor clinical, simultaneously challenging the conventions of beauty and strength promulgated by the media.
Brazilian photographer Gustavo Lacerda is fascinated by albinos. Albinism, a genetic condition characterised by the diminished or complete absence of pigment in the hair, skin and eyes (Vision Australia, 2012), is veiled by misconception, often causing those affected to become outsiders. In his series Albinos, Lacerda manipulates the format of a posed studio portrait—images typically impersonal and austere in nature—to depict albinos with dignity and respect. The subjects are not victims in these photographs, nor are they, as so often occurs in contemporary society, sidelined or silenced. Instead they are placed plainly in the foreground, demanding attention. As invisible outsiders whose portrayals are... The rest of this article is available to subscribers of Eyeline
Gustavo Lacerda, Marcos, Andreza e Andre, 2011. Image courtesy of the artist.
Kerry Mansfield, Self-Portrait, Post Mastectomy, 2005. Image courtesy of the artist.
