In a complicated twist of mild voyeurism and exhibitionism, this woman makes what I consider art, in the form of capturing others responses to her presence in front of a tripod and camera. Photographer Haley Morris-Cafiero explains, “I now reverse the gaze and record their reactions to me while I perform mundane tasks in public spaces.” Legally, it is not a problem to take pictures of strangers without permission as long as the images are not for commercial use, so the artist does no crime legally. What some have argued though is that she is insinuating that the others around her are bad people, when it may not actually be the case. Being charged by individuals for slander and manipulated images, I find it disheartening that the act of observation and recording is under attack. Maybe the images she takes are influenced, the presence of a camera is obvious, yet I would defend her art from social criminalizing because, particularly with the image of the cop, happening like this need to be reflected on.
This art could also reflect the society around them. It makes me wonder that if she was a conventionally attractive and a skinny woman would the controversy around this still be valid? Would people be happier to be captured next to a hot woman, shocked more than disgusted next to an oversized woman? That’s the question I think this art serves.
I find her artwork to be an interesting approach. I definitely see this as a piece of art, showcasing different perspectives on how people interact with one another. While it does showcase the people giving a “strange” look in a somewhat mean way, one can’t criminalize her photo as she is simply capturing a candid moment in her life. I honestly don’t think the people giving the “strange” looks are aiming their emotion towards her, but I see the approach she is taking with this outside perspective viewpoint and maybe this can make people more aware of their facial expressions.