
Collection Online as of March 29, 2023
(American, 1941-)
Split toned gelatin silver print
Gift of Friends of Photography 1997.199
Olivia Parker © 1982
Impression: 40
not on view
Olivia Parker's images result from her preoccupation with collecting. She juxtaposes found objects in her constructions, which she then photographs. Her collages frequently include both very old and living objects that contain a strong element of time past, time passing, and memory. In Carousel, Parker weaved together brilliant light and shadow patterns with evocative, mysterious subject matter. The horse in this composition illustrates one of Parker's recurrent themes: to show how different things are thought of at different times. Ultimately, the audience must use its own experiences to relate to and interpret the photographer's ambiguous story.