In An American Index of the Hidden and Unfamiliar, Taryn Simon documents spaces integral to America's foundation, mythology and daily functioning, but remain inaccessible or unknown to a public audience. She has photographed rarely-seen sites from domains including: science, government, medicine, entertainment, nature, security and religion. This index examines subjects that, while provocative or controversial, are currently legal. The work responds to a desire to discover unknown territories, to see everything. Simon makes use of the annotated photographs' capacity to engage and inform the public. Transforming that which is off-limits or under-the-radar into a visible and intelligible form, she confronts the divide between the privileged access of the few and the limited access of the public. Photographed with a large format view camera (except when prohibited), Simons 70 colour plates form a seductive collection that reflects and reveals a national identity.
Foreword by Salman Rushdie
Out of Print. 1st edition published by Steidl, 2007. Format: Hardback
