via: simpson
Notes:
Lorna Simpson’s early works, particularly her photography and text pieces from the 1980s, are characterized by a powerful combination of minimalistic imagery and pointed textual commentary, drawing the viewer into an exploration of identity, gender, and race. Using a stark, often monochromatic palette, Simpson’s photographic style is both restrained and deeply evocative. She frequently obscures the subject’s face or focuses on fragments of the body, which serves to de-emphasize individuality in favor of addressing the broader cultural narratives inscribed on Black bodies, especially those of Black women. This aesthetic choice subtly but firmly critiques the way society often views these bodies through a lens of stereotype and prejudice, urging viewers to reconsider the assumptions embedded in their gaze.
Simpson’s use of text alongside her images adds a complex layer of meaning to her work, making it a hybrid between photography and conceptual art. The phrases she selects—sometimes seemingly straightforward, sometimes cryptic—interact with the images to suggest narratives without fully disclosing them. This intentional ambiguity allows viewers to project their own interpretations, implicating them in the very systems of thought that Simpson seeks to question. Her 1986 series Waterbearer, for example, features a woman holding a vessel, with the accompanying text referencing memory and loss, probing at themes of inherited trauma and the burden of historical identity. This interplay between image and text is a defining feature of her early works, establishing Simpson as a critical voice in challenging the often one-dimensional ways in which Black women are portrayed.
By combining an aesthetic of restraint with a deep, unsettling conceptual force, Simpson’s early pieces make viewers acutely aware of the layers of meaning that underlie both the images and texts. Her work encourages a slow and thoughtful viewing experience, where understanding is not immediately given but rather earned through reflection. This approach to confronting social issues without overt didacticism allows her to reach a diverse audience, prompting them to think more critically about their own perceptions and the biases they may carry. Simpson’s early oeuvre set the stage for the expansive, multimedia work that would follow, solidifying her as a pivotal figure in contemporary art who addresses complex social issues through a lens that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.
- RJG