Carrie Mae Weems: Kitchen Table Series

The Kitchen Table Series is a book that tells a story of one woman's life in the intimate setting of her kitchen. It features 20 photographs and 14 text panels that explore themes of domesticity, monogamy, and the battle between the sexes. The artist, Carrie Mae Weems, uses the kitchen as a frame to depict her own relationships and sense of self, portraying strength, vulnerability, aloofness, tenderness, and solitude. The series seeks to reposition and reimagine the possibilities for women and people of color and deals with the theme of unrequited love.

Format: Hardback
Length: 78 pages
Publication date: 19 January 2023
Publisher: MW Editions

In its book format, "Kitchen Table" offers a more intimate and personal experience compared to navigating a museum. Instead of aimlessly wandering through exhibits, taking time to appreciate the images, and quickly skimming through text panels, the pace of exploration now rests in the hands of the reader.

The publication focuses solely on the early and canonical body of work by American artist Carrie Mae Weems, born in 1953. Comprising 20 photographs and 14 text panels, the "Kitchen Table Series" weaves a captivating narrative that unfolds within the intimate setting of Weems' kitchen.

The kitchen, a central space of domesticity and traditionally associated with women, serves as the backdrop for Weems' story. It reveals her relationships with lovers, children, friends, and her own evolving sense of self through her diverse portrayals of strength, vulnerability, aloofness, tenderness, and solitude.

As Weems herself describes it, this artistic endeavor portrays "the battle around the family, monogamy, and between the sexes." While the woman depicted in the series may be an archetype, Weems herself assumes the role of the protagonist. The "Kitchen Table Series" aims to reimagine the possibilities for women and people of color, delving into themes of unrequited love and exploring the complexities of human relationships.

The book format allows readers to immerse themselves in Weems' visual and textual narrative at their own pace, pausing to contemplate the images, reflect on the text, and engage with the themes presented. It provides a deeper understanding and appreciation of Weems' artistic vision, offering a unique and intimate perspective on her life and work.

Weight: 1120g
Dimension: 353 x 257 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781735762968