Trying Them On

You can usually expect a mix of thought-provoking concept and interesting photography from a show associated with the Humble Arts Foundation and curator Jon Feinstein, and “Trying the ON” delivers on both counts.

The show centers around the concept of “borrowing another’s skin” or wearing another culture’s clothing, make-up or adapting their rituals, particularly as practiced in Europe and North America.

Michael Bühler-Rose features American born white women raised with the cultures of India in a new community of Florida, while Claire Beckett’s series focuses on American soldiers vilifying Iraqi’s by borrowing their cultural garb. Add to this Andrea Robbins and Max Becher’s staging a look with “German Indians” and the “ghetto glam” of white girls in the American Hip Hop culture, shot by Helen Maurene Cooper and you have a distinctive look at some of western culture’s more identifiable caricatures. With this kind of line-up how can the plot not thicken?

Aside from this deeper meaning the exhibition has some expertly produced photographs. I don’t consider this to be one of the more earnest shows by Humble, yet “Trying Them On” presents ideas that will keep you discussing the exhibition long after you have left the gallery.

E.E.B