KAREN  AMY  FINKEL  FISHOF
CONTEMPORARY ARTIST

My work engages public conversations around contemporary topics, including women's issues, politics, culture, heritage, trauma, and family, utilizing the silhouette as a vehicle for impact. My photograms reflect my personal awakenings as I "think out loud" on paper.

Each artwork narrates an epiphanous awakening as I build my character — questioning the belief system I was raised on. I explore how modern women navigate traditional roles and expectations, addressing taboo issues often overlooked.

Having lived as both a secular and orthodox woman, I bring a unique perspective to my art, informed by the duality of my experiences. My struggle to reconcile these distinct realities finds clarity through my creative process.
​
The heart of my art lies in the photogram process. It unfolds in the darkroom, where I meticulously arrange people, objects, and text on photo paper placed on the floor, expose the scene to light, and develop the paper through conventional methods. The entire creative process fascinates me from the moment of exposure to the revelation of the image in the chemistry. The absence of a negative delivers a rush of adrenaline, knowing that this is a one-time opportunity, coupled with the intrigue of watching objects interact with light in the darkroom. Persons and objects serve a double role. They are instruments in the imagery and declare a statement about the medium as the light reveals their inherent form. We are forced to recognize a new aspect of the person or object touching the surface, its unique construction. Each step in the process is a profound moment of discovery, visually and personally.
​
My aesthetic centers on the human body. I transform a three-dimensional human into a two-dimensional light impression, revealing particular sculptural aspects of the human figure. These photograms are distinct, resembling painterly ghosts, and are born out of a process I consider as drawing with light. Each piece, an interplay of intention and spontaneous improvisation, is realized as its own unique story. We cannot help but form a human connection with the humanity we are facing. There is something about facing a replica of a life-sized human, to scale, that prompts personal reflection and bids the question, "What do I see of myself in this?" These stark figures invite the viewer to enter their world and participate in their story.

When drafting these theatrical stills, a presence remains of the individuals, akin to the handprints on the Hollywood "Walk of Fame." You are aware that the figure had physical contact with the artwork. Therefore, the creation carries a tangible presence encapsulated within the paper—a departure from conventional photography or portraiture disrupting contemporary photography norms. Not only are the figures actors in a drama, but they are also portraits of the models and reflect their inherent personalities and physical features.

Connecting through art, I define my identity, confront stereotypes, and navigate the space between the secular and the sacred by shining a light on the humanity we all share.