Artist Naima Green is presenting a profound and visually arresting exploration of motherhood, expectation, and family in her latest solo exhibition in New York City.
An Expansive Vision of Family-Making
The exhibition, titled Instead, I spin fantasies, is currently on show at the prestigious International Center of Photography (ICP). Through a compelling series of portraits, Green investigates the multifaceted concepts and societal pressures surrounding pregnancy and parenthood.
In a recent interview, the artist explained her ambitious goal. "I’m trying to explore a very expansive picture across different geographies, different classes, different ideas of family," Green stated. "It's just a way of seeing, understanding or creating different possibilities for family-making." This thematic depth forms the core of the exhibition, pushing beyond traditional narratives.
Blurring Lines Between Reality and Fiction
The photographic works themselves are a deliberate mix of the authentic and the imagined. In a powerful act of embodiment, Green features in several images wearing a prosthetic pregnant belly, physically inhabiting the subject of her inquiry.
The exhibition also includes portraits of other individuals from the artist's own life and wider community, creating a tapestry of diverse experiences. This approach allows Green to construct semi-fictional scenarios that challenge the viewer's preconceptions about what constitutes a family and the journey to create one.
Notable works from the show include poignant pieces such as 'If I didn’t let my mind run too far ahead, I felt completely happy' (2024) and 'Molly, 19 days before Zadie' (2023). Each photograph is a carefully composed story, inviting reflection on joy, anxiety, intimacy, and the complex layers of impending parenthood.
A Lasting Conversation on Parenthood
By placing herself both behind and in front of the camera, Naima Green fosters a deeply personal yet universally resonant dialogue. The exhibition does not seek to provide definitive answers but rather to open up a spectrum of questions and possibilities.
Instead, I spin fantasies stands as a significant contribution to contemporary discourse on maternity, art, and identity. It encourages a broader, more inclusive understanding of the paths to creating family, making it a must-see for anyone interested in the cutting edge of photographic art and social commentary. The exhibition's run at the ICP offers a unique opportunity to engage with these provocative and beautifully crafted works.
