Nikki S. Lee Part (14), 2002 [photograph]

The image shown above is a photograph of the artist Nikki S. Lee. Lee is a Korean artist and filmmaker, often dressing up as different characters for her projects. The photograph is from her series of images based on the idea of observing people and guessing what their stories could be.

The photograph part (14) portrays a lady sat in the back of a taxi looking quite made up, however she is sat staring out of the window with an expressionless look on her face. The composition of the photograph has cut out the person sat next to her, leaving behind just his arm which is gently placed around her shoulder. Suggesting a relationship between the two. I believe that the expression posed on her face suggests an indifference in the relationship. He could be reaching out to her yet she has shut him off. The fact they are sat in a taxi raises the question of where could their destination be? The light coming in from the back window of the taxi creates areas of bright light and areas of dark shadows within the confined space. The light and the taxi could be creating a metaphor for their relationship. For instance, They could be on a new and unknown journey in their relationship hence why they’re in a taxi.

The whole curiosity of the image is rather intriguing and after looking at the image for not very long many questions can be raised. However, the viewer is not granted the answers to the questions they have. Lee has a recurring theme in her series of photographs named “parts”. The idea of an absent lover, achieving this like she has here by planning the composition so that the male figure is never fully present yet the idea of him is.