The Domestic Interior and the Self in Contemporary Photography

Jane Simon's book explores the relationship between domestic photography and the self, arguing that artists who harness this medium can advance a more expansive understanding of the autobiographical. It examines artists who maintain a personal gaze at domestic detail, reframing the relationship between interiors and exteriors, public and private, and emphasizing the importance of domestic interiors to understandings of the self and photography.

Format: Hardback
Length: 160 pages
Publication date: 18 September 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This groundbreaking book makes a distinctive contribution to photography theory and criticism, as well as life-narrative studies, by carefully examining the domestic in relation to the self and the photographic. Through the fusion of two critical practices, Jane Simon argues that artists who engage with domestic photography possess the potential to expand our understanding of the autobiographical.

The book delves into the notion that self-representation can extend beyond the confines of self-portraiture or the human form. It showcases a diverse range of artists from around the world, including Rinko Kawauchi, Catherine Opie, Dayanita Singh, Moyra Davey, and Elina Brotherus, who maintain a personal and intimate gaze at the details of domestic life. By treating the representation of interiors, domestic objects, and the act of photographic seeing and framing as autobiographical gestures, the book challenges traditional notions of the relationship between interiors and exteriors, public and private. It emphasizes the significance of domestic interiors in understanding the self and photography.

This book will appeal to scholars and researchers working in the fields of photographic history and theory, art history, and visual studies. It offers a fresh perspective on the role of the domestic in shaping artistic practices and provides valuable insights into the complex interplay between self, photography, and the broader social context.

Weight: 470g
Dimension: 246 x 174 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367543402