The Photographers Gallery in London had an exhibition a few years back where I was introduced to Taryn Simon's work. Her work is a series of photographs on hidden and unexpected areas and items found in the United States. There is a Playboy Magazine for the blind, the nuclear waste dump that illuminates bright blue and can be seen for miles and miles at night. The photograph shown here is of a White Bengal Tiger, this seems fine but when you read into why Simon has taken the photograph you notice that it is to make a point about caged endangered animals. There are no White Tigers remaining in the wild and to get this "prized" beast took several attempts of inbreeding with two other White Bengal Tigers. This poor sod is going blind, has crippled feet and dodgy joints and much more wrong with him. When reading why Taryn Simon shot the photos she did you understand how hidden and mysterious things are in America.Her work is beautiful to look at and hard hitting at the same time. If you ever get the chance to go and see her work it is well worth the visit as her work is stunning and impacting to look at. She also has a book out called An American Index of the Hidden and Unfamiliar, which has the photographs and information about them which is worth looking at.
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