INGAR KRAUSS
In a Russian Juvenile Prison
October 14 through November 20, 2004

January/February 2005

INGAR KRAUSS
by S.R.F.

German photographer Ingar Krauss's black-and-white pictures of inmates in the juvenile prison system in Russia-- each standing alone, except for a single pair shown together-- convey an authenticity that is rare in contemporary art. These adolescents wear nearly identical uniforms (sewn by each prisoner), but project their individual will through their body language and, especially, their eyes. By choosing to present his subjects in a simple but not reductive format, against the rough-textured cell wall, and by connecting with them persuasively, Krauss reveals their humanity with a poignant grace.