Karen Knorr
London Metropolitan University (Map)
Thursday 27 February
6:30 for 7pm prompt
LIPs Talk events are being held in partnership with the Sir John Cass School of Art, Architecture and Design at London Metropolitan University. They are informal and social, and open to LIP members and non-members alike, so bring your friends and be inspired by new perspectives – whether you’re a photographer or not.
Transcultural Migrations
Karen Knorr (featured in the current BJP and exhibiting in a new exhibition on Masculinity at the Barbican) Her most well known work called Gentlemen (1981-1983) was photographed in Saint James’s clubs in London and investigated the patriarchal conservative values of Britain during the Falklands war. Karen ’s work developed a critical and playful dialogue with documentary photography using different visual and textual strategies to explore her chosen subject matter that ranges from the family and lifestyle to the animal and its representation in the museum context. Since 2012 Knorr has been visiting Japan to reflect on tradition within contemporary Japan referencing Ukiyo-e prints and folktales connected to Shinto and Buddhist heritage sites. Her first series entitled Monagatari, places animals and humans in temple sites found in Nara, Kyoto, Tokyo and Ohara. Her second related series Karyukai is inspired by the Kano’s 36 portraits of poets also referencing “bijinga” prints of the 17th century. Women photographed by Karen Knorr were asked to compose waka and haiku reflecting on their life and dreams. Future projects are now developing in Italy, India, Japan and USA.