March 21 - April 26, 2009
Galleria San Ludovico
Borgo del Parmigianino, 2/b
Parma, Italy

“Identity Identities,” an exhibition of work by 11 recent alumni from the BFA Photography Department at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) will be on view from March 21 through April 26 at Galleria San Ludovico in Parma, Italy. Organized by SVA and curated by Department Chair Stephen Frailey, the exhibition explores the mutable and multi-faceted nature of individual and collective identity. “Identity Identities” is accompanied by a printed brochure with an essay by Seth Greenwald, a photographer and faculty member in the department.

“Identity Identities” is the second of a two-part, cross-cultural photographic exhibition, resulting from a cooperative partnership between SVA and the City of Parma which aims to start an intercultural dialogue between young artists. The first exhibition, held in October 2008 at the Visual Arts Gallery at SVA, presented the work of nine emerging photographers from Parma addressing the same theme.

The 22 selected works examine the elastic nature of identity and the various constructs which give it shape, such as the body, the environment, social networks and systems of language. As Greenwald notes in his essay, “Who is better suited to exploring the permutations of identity than the photographer? After all, the very act of photographing invites a suturing of identities: that of the camera operator with what is unfolding before the lens? It is a medium whose very apparatus serves to question identity: separated from the event, the photographer peers through the viewfinder, simultaneously connected to, yet excluded from, what she sees there.”

Kelly Clark presents images of seemingly nondescript suburban American homes which are accompanied by text recounting the violent crimes which took place in each.

Hugo Fernandes explores issues of sexual identity and social acceptance. His carefully-lit, vaguely mysterious images are of men that he meets on Web sites intended for erotic encounters.

Victoria Hely-Hutchinson documents life at exclusive British boarding schools like the one she once attended.

Nicola Kast considers German national identity through self-portraiture that employs social stereotypes and historical tropes.

Jennifer Lee creates diaristic narratives which combine photography, fashion design and set construction to explore aspects of her feminine identity.

Anula Maiberg combines text and abstract backgrounds to address issues of power and control.

Susanne Persson manipulates consumer product logos, removing select details and leaving a skeletal framework of form and color, raising the question of how deeply-encoded in our culture logo recognition is.

Joseph Sbarro’s images of different bodies result in biomorphic shapes that can be considered strangely beautiful and nightmarishly grotesque.

Jess Shaffer’s self-portraits explore the slippage of identity between childhood and adulthood, resulting in images with a sense of lingering anxiety.

Allison Yeskel’s photographs of young men who have undergone varying degrees of body modification examine the connection between identity and the physical form.

Jing Quek’s work explores various communities that are frequently overlooked. The lighthearted, highly-stylized compositions belie serious questions about the impact of capitalism and globalization.

The BFA Photography Department at SVA offers students a full range of options in the study of photography: commercial, fine art, fashion and documentary. The department is equipped with state-of-the-art technical facilities; a faculty of nearly 100 members, including not only working photographers but photo editors, critics, publishers and photography dealers; and a curriculum that integrates photographic genres, identities and ambitions. SVA’s diversity in curriculum and the faculty’s professional experience offer students the freedom and support to explore different directions in photography.

Located in a historic palace in the city center, Galleria San Ludovico is a contemporary exhibition space of the Municipality of Parma. The gallery is open Monday through Sunday from 10am - 1pm and 4pm - 7pm; closed Tuesdays. Admission is free. For further details, please contact eventiemostre@comune.parma.it.

School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City is an established leader and innovator in the education of artists. From its inception in 1947, the faculty has been comprised of professionals working in the arts and art-related fields. SVA provides an environment that nurtures creativity, inventiveness and experimentation, enabling students to develop a strong sense of identity and a clear direction of purpose.

Media Contact: For more information and images please contact Keri Murawski, publicist, at 212.592.2164 or e-mail kmurawski@sva.edu.