A powerful new solo exhibition in New York City is challenging conventional narratives around pregnancy, motherhood, and the creation of family. Artist Naima Green's show, titled 'Instead, I spin fantasies', is currently on display at the prestigious International Center of Photography (ICP).
Blurring lines between reality and fiction
The exhibition features a compelling series of portraits that exist in a space between documentary and constructed narrative. In a bold artistic move, Green herself appears in several photographs wearing a prosthetic pregnant belly. The collection also includes portraits of other individuals from her life and wider community, creating a tapestry of diverse experiences.
Green describes her work as an exploration of "a very expansive picture across different geographies, different classes, different ideas of family." Her goal is to use the medium of photography as "a way of seeing, understanding or creating different possibilities for family-making." This approach moves beyond traditional depictions to question societal expectations.
A visual conversation on modern parenthood
The photographs themselves carry evocative titles that prompt reflection, such as 'If I didn’t let my mind run too far ahead, I felt completely happy' (2024) and 'It’s funny how people don’t give that much thought to what kids want, as long as they’re being quiet' (2024). Other works include 'Meet me at The London' (2022), 'Dream Feed' (2024), and 'Molly, 19 days before Zadie' (2023).
This body of work represents a significant development in contemporary photography that deals with intimate social themes. By incorporating both real and semi-fictional elements, Green opens a dialogue about choice, expectation, identity, and the many forms that kinship can take in the modern world.
Exhibition details and significance
The exhibition is open now at the ICP in New York. While the show is not in the UK, its themes resonate globally, offering a poignant commentary on universal experiences of potential parenthood and familial bonds. For audiences interested in cutting-edge photography and social discourse, Green's work provides a vital and thought-provoking perspective.
The project underscores the role of art in examining and expanding our deepest social constructs. 'Instead, I spin fantasies' continues until its scheduled closing date, inviting viewers to reconsider their own assumptions about life's most fundamental relationships.
