photokunst is proud to present Invisible Eve: Crime & Wisdom, a pioneering traveling exhibition, with a book by the same name (Rizzoli 2013), which touches on prescient social issues, exploring the stark reality of female prisoners in the US today. The exhibition of thirty-five compelling black-and-white silver gelatin portraits, with accompanying statements by the women inmates and supportive panels, is available to travel through 2020.
Award winning photographer Yousef Khanfar, was granted rare access to his subjects, and sought to humanize these women. Visiting the harsh inner prison world, Khanfer came to the understanding that he might not be able to help the women inside prison, but their voices might be able to reach beyond the bars. Each woman shared words of wisdom, feeling that it was a chance to become part of the solution, instead of the problem.
“All the women I photographed in this project were united by misfortune of circumstances and non-violent crimes. It was not inmates I saw through my lens, but human beings; deserving of a voice and opportunity for a fresh chance at life.”
Invisible Eve is a message of hope and a call for action, It is not political, nor does it seek blame. It invites open and honest consideration and discourse. The exhibition, with its compelling content, presents a rare educational opportunity to experience an otherwise exclusive world and engage the community on a timely issue. Khanfar shared moving remarks about the need for action at the Gaylord-Pickens Oklahoma Heritage Museum exhibition opening, June 2013, enjoy the video below:
“Perhaps the most striking thing about Khanfar’s portraits of women who are incarcerated for nonviolent crimes is their optimistic humanism… ~American Photo