Odette England collects found photographs showing men taking pictures of women without permission, women rejecting the camera by placing their hands over their faces, men posing with guns, and hands. For England, these images suggest a complex relationship between guns, cameras, and violence against women. As Teju Cole has written, “When we speak of ‘shooting’ with a camera, we are acknowledging the kinship of photography and violence.” There is a shared vocabulary between guns and cameras that load, aim, and shoot. In making these connections, England hopes to surface the problematic visual habits embedded in our culture and to work towards an alternative way of using the camera to share our voices rather than normalize violence.

On view at the Contemporary Art Galleries, October 25 2023 – Mar 9, 2024