Jackie Nickerson

Faith

I spotted Nickerson’s work on the cover of Issue 8 2007 SEESAW MAGAZINE. I instantly went to look at the full feature and was instantly drawn in. Firstly the subject matter really astounded me as it tackled with full intent the question I have previously set out to answer, why hasn’t photography ever been fully utilised as a form of representation by religion?

Nickerson series is a ”portrayal of a hidden world, the Catholic religious orders of Ireland.” Her images have a still quality to them, her subjects are looking into the distance, away from our direct gaze, this I feel is much less confrontational and we wonder what they are looking at. The portraits sit gentle alongside documentary images inside the convent. The outside isn’t the focus here, the windows are filled with light and often out of view leaving them to form a mere suggestion of a shadow. The image of the ‘gate’ isn’t merely a gate, but a barrier to another way of life which these people choose to separate themselves from. 

It is interesting to see how these images have been curated, two different approaches are shown in the images above. The spotlighting used at Centre Culturel Irlandais Paris, really raises these images from the gallery wall, it suggests to me that those are much more than just images, they are icons. The much more clinical approach taken by the Jack Shainman Gallery New York, presents them in a much more objective manner. These characters feel much more out of place, but maybe this helps us to compare, consider and contrast them to each other and much importantly to us. Released in 2007 and published by Steidlville (http://www.steidlville.com/books/601-Faith.html) take a look at the book and see how this presentation is again totally different, each image sits alone on one page whilst the seemly empty blank space opposite helps push our attention back. 

However exotic or unfamiliar this way of life may be to us, after viewing the images I am left with a feeling of respect. Nickerson has successful portrayed these people with a clearness of reason and purpose, which must take great personal conviction.

(Source: jackienickerson.com)