Images courtesy of Unseen.
This article originally appeared on Creators.Dutch art director and curator Erik Kessels told a classroom of second-year photography students from Écal to embarrass themselves as creative practice. The workshop then exhibited these projects as a group show titled The Embarrassment as part of the Unseen Photo Fair in Amsterdam."Embarrassment is important. If you're not willing to humiliate yourself, make mistakes and downright fuck-up, you should consider working in a cubicle farm. It's safer there," writes Kessels in an embarrassment manifesto for the show.The photo show is an open space with photographs tacked on to pallets located in Westerpark. The Embarrassment is strong collection of photo experiments in vulnerability, frailness, and courage, furthering the notion that the personal is political. We learn up close—almost too closely—about taboo subjects such as eating disorders, pedophilia, body dysmorphia, family upheavals, and sexuality. The images range from digital, archival, and found photos. The students also printed a corresponding newspaper for the exhibit.Kessels says that "By embarrassing themselves they are able to tell a personal, often embarrassing and risky story." The photos you are about to see capture moments on the precipice. Is it more invigorating for the viewer or the photographer? Let us know what you think:"In the Process of Separation," Photo by Tanya Kottler: My father passed away when his house caught on fire. While sifting through the ashes of what was left of his life we found images that he had taken at my parents wedding. These happy cliché images, hid the sad reality of this relationship that was ill-fated from the outset.For more information aboutThe Embarrassmentat the Unseen Photo Fair,click here.Related:Visual Experiments Show Us The Future of PhotographySnapshots of the Future of Photography[Photos] Paolo Pellizzari's Panoramic Sports
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