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Artist: Takeisha Jefferson
Artist Statement
This photography series contains a collection of pieces that are a part of my ongoing Veiled series. The title Revelations is in reference to the ways in which these images have been created, as well as what they reveal about the history of the daguerreotype and alternative photographic processes.
This series began as an exploration of the daguerreotype process, which is one of the earliest forms of photography. I was interested in the history of this process and how it was used to create images that were often seen as ‘revealing’ or ‘unveiling’ the subjects that were photographed. I began to experiment with the attempted digital duplication of this process along with wet plate, and found that I could use it to create images that were both historical and contemporary.
By combining the historic daguerreotype process with more contemporary photographic processes, I am able to create images that are both familiar and unfamiliar, revealing and concealing. The use of the veil in these images is meant to represent the ways in which history can be both hidden and revealed.
I find myself challenging the canon daily. Whether it is with the process I use or the narratives I create. The stories I want to share are ones that need to be told, and my hope is that through my artwork, I can give life to the forgotten and unknown.
About the Artist
Takeisha Jefferson is a visual artist, mentor, and author based in Garden City, Michigan. She attended the University of Auburn at Montgomery. Jefferson has participated in a solo show at the Rosa Parks Museum in Montgomery, Alabama, and numerous group exhibitions throughout the United States and abroad. Her work is held in both public and private collections.