Older men lay nude on sofas posed like the sex workers photographed by EJ Bellocq, women in a rural Mississippi town disguise themselves mischievously behind flower arrangements and death masks, the artist herself is seen enacting absurd interpretations of a beauty and charm guide for women in the 1940’s. The photographic work of artist Carolyn Drake playfully brings forward important discussions around gender, culture, and identity, bringing new color to the grey zone between documentary and conceptual photography. Her work is ignited by wonder with tints of anger and empathy.

Playing with gender rules and identity standards

Carolyn Drake endeavors to understand the inner workings and ‘rules’ of gender and cultural identity, enriches us with new perspectives on these deeply embedded patterns, and leaves us speculating about their influence on culture and identity. The result is often surprising, intriguing and with stints of humorous self-reflection.

The exhibition at the Royal Danish Theatre in June will feature works from Drake’s most recent and prize winning oeuvre based on collaborative practices and self portraiture, specifically her projects Knit Club (2012-2020), Men Untitled (2020-2023) and Glorify Yourself (2020-2023).

Subverting power dynamics through collaboration and role reversals

In her early career, Drake often worked with communities and people on the margins of power, including Uyghurs in western China and young women sequestered in an ex-Soviet orphanage. Over time, her photographic projects have paid increasing attention to the power dynamics inherent in human relationships, including those formed through documentary practices. She draws attention to and tries to subvert these dynamics through collaboration, performance,  role reversals, and creative play.

Award winning Magnum photographer

Carolyn Drake has received numerous awards and recognitions for her work. Since 2019 she has been part of the renowned photographic community, Magnum Photos. She is a Guggenheim Fellow, was awarded with a Fulbright Fellowship in connection with her work in Ukraine and winner of The Lange Taylor Prize. She had major solo exhibitions at the Henri Cartier Bresson Foundation in Paris, SFMOMA in San Francisco and at Yancey Richardson Gallery in New York, who also represents her. ‘Knit Club’ was Paris Photo Aperture Book of the Year finalist in 2020. She has a degree in media culture and history from Brown University.