In a candid and revealing new interview, the legendary American photographer Sally Mann has opened up about the seismic impact of her most famous and controversial body of work, Immediate Family, and her profound personal evolution into a celebrated writer.
Mann's photographs, captured in the humid haze of her Virginia farm in the late 1980s and early 1990s, presented an unflinching and intimate portrait of her children's childhood. The images, both raw and poetic, depicted the universal, often messy, realities of growing up—skinned knees, wet beds, and the complex navigation of their own bodies.
A Firestorm of Criticism
While hailed by many as a masterpiece of modern photography, the work was simultaneously met with a firestorm of controversy. Mann found herself thrust into the centre of the era's ferocious 'culture wars', facing vitriolic accusations of exploitation and even child abuse from conservative commentators and media outlets.
Reflecting on the period, Mann discusses the personal toll of the public scrutiny, not just on her but on her young family. The interview explores her resilience in the face of this backlash and her unwavering defence of the work's integrity and love.
From Image to Word: A New Chapter
The conversation takes a compelling turn towards Mann's second act as a writer. Her acclaimed 2015 memoir, Hold Still, was a finalist for the National Book Award, astonishing critics and readers with its lyrical power and intellectual depth.
She reveals the instinctual drive behind this transition, describing writing as a more immersive and analytical process for her than photography. Mann delves into her latest literary project, a work of autofiction, showcasing her continued need to mine her own history and the Southern landscape for artistic material.
Ultimately, the portrait that emerges is of a fearless artist who has consistently followed her own creative compass. Whether through the lens of a camera or the point of a pen, Sally Mann continues to challenge conventions, explore the complexities of family and memory, and cement her legacy as a pivotal figure in American art.
