THE DANGERS IN BEING SEEN
Jan 4th | Written by Blake Sterling
01.02.26
THE DANGERS IN BEING SEEN is a personal title and also a title that acknowledges something about our humanity.
It was found in how I understand the three lives of each image: taking, developing, and exhibiting. Exhibition is the life that I know the least about and the one that I am attempting today.
Too, the title is a reality in how we know or validate that we exist. I need you to see me to exist. And, I fear your seeing and mis-seeing of me. This is the dangerous part. And every day we all hope, if we are lucky, to have an image that both validates and becomes who we are. My subjects and I are all emerging into our twenties; every day is a trial of who we wish to become, of how we desire to be seen. My photographs are proving grounds that see us as vulnerable, proud, desiring, shy, silent, chaotic, unready, and daring individuals.
To be seen is to be in society; to not be seen is freedom at the cost of one’s existence.
We are all playing and imagining how else we can be seen, asking ourselves which image feels right.
It is my hope not to be violent onto my subjects while exhibiting them for the world. This is an inevitable and failing endeavor. But now, on exhibition, is THE DANGERS IN BEING SEEN.
01.04.26
Tonight is the exhibition.
The title is apt. Today I feel and fear the dangers in being seen.
The act of presenting myself on display to convey my honest, artist’s report—not for myself, but for this dangerous society.
Tonight I will consider “Blake” as I am, and “Blake” as the world sees and wants me to be. It is murderous when these fail one another. My god,
If I am lucky, if my legs keep me standing, and my voice holds out…
THE DANGERS IN BEING SEEN is a personal title and also a title that acknowledges something about our humanity.
It was found in how I understand the three lives of each image: taking, developing, and exhibiting. Exhibition is the life that I know the least about and the one that I am attempting today.
Too, the title is a reality in how we know or validate that we exist. I need you to see me to exist. And, I fear your seeing and mis-seeing of me. This is the dangerous part. And every day we all hope, if we are lucky, to have an image that both validates and becomes who we are. My subjects and I are all emerging into our twenties; every day is a trial of who we wish to become, of how we desire to be seen. My photographs are proving grounds that see us as vulnerable, proud, desiring, shy, silent, chaotic, unready, and daring individuals.
To be seen is to be in society; to not be seen is freedom at the cost of one’s existence.
We are all playing and imagining how else we can be seen, asking ourselves which image feels right.
It is my hope not to be violent onto my subjects while exhibiting them for the world. This is an inevitable and failing endeavor. But now, on exhibition, is THE DANGERS IN BEING SEEN.
01.04.26
Tonight is the exhibition.
The title is apt. Today I feel and fear the dangers in being seen.
The act of presenting myself on display to convey my honest, artist’s report—not for myself, but for this dangerous society.
Tonight I will consider “Blake” as I am, and “Blake” as the world sees and wants me to be. It is murderous when these fail one another. My god,
If I am lucky, if my legs keep me standing, and my voice holds out…