Aperture, No. 182. Spring 2006. Jen Davis, Sol Lewitt, Elinor Carucci, et al.

Danto, Davis and Kant. Angola Prison: No Place to Be. Jen Davis's Self-Portraits. Sol Lewitt's Spheres. Vince Aletti on Junior Bazaar. "Snowflake" Bentley. Elinor Carucci's Dramas. Paolo Pellegrin in Darfur. Michael Famighetti on PhotoEspagnan 2005. Fine.  Summary:

The Spring 2006 issue of Aperture (No. 182) is a diverse collection that bridges contemporary social documentary, deeply personal portraiture, and the intersection of philosophy and art. It exemplifies the magazine's commitment to exploring the ethical and aesthetic dimensions of the photographic image.

Key Portfolios and Features

• Angola Prison: No Place to Be: A harrowing look at the Louisiana State Penitentiary. The feature examines the systemic realities of life within the largest maximum-security prison in the United States, balancing stark visual evidence with social critique.

• Jen Davis’s Self-Portraits: A vulnerable and acclaimed series where Davis explores issues of body image, beauty standards, and the female gaze. Her cinematic, intimate portraits challenge traditional representations of the body and the "self."

• Sol LeWitt’s Spheres: Moving into the realm of conceptual art, this section highlights LeWitt’s photographic studies of spheres. It explores his fascination with geometric repetition and the translation of three-dimensional form into two-dimensional sequences.

• Elinor Carucci’s Dramas: Known for her extreme domestic intimacy, Carucci’s work in this issue continues her exploration of family dynamics. She captures the "drama" of the everyday—tensions, touch, and the visceral reality of relationships.

• Paolo Pellegrin in Darfur: A powerful example of contemporary conflict photography. Pellegrin’s evocative, high-contrast imagery documents the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, emphasizing the dignity and suffering of those displaced by violence.

Critical Essays and History

• Danto, Davis, and Kant: A scholarly centerpiece that engages with the philosophy of art. The essay explores how the aesthetic theories of Arthur Danto and Immanuel Kant apply to contemporary photography, specifically through the lens of critic Whitney Davis.

• Vince Aletti on Junior Bazaar: The renowned critic looks back at the short-lived but visually revolutionary fashion magazine Junior Bazaar. Aletti analyzes how the publication’s art direction and photography (often by Lillian Bassman) redefined youth fashion in the 1940s.

• "Snowflake" Bentley: A historical retrospective on Wilson Bentley, the first person to successfully photograph a single snowflake. The feature celebrates the 19th-century intersection of scientific obsession and natural beauty.

• Michael Famighetti on PhotoEspaña 2005: A review of the major international photography festival, providing a critical overview of the global trends and standout artists of the mid-2000s.

Core Themes

The issue oscillates between the macro (the crisis in Darfur and the prison system) and the micro (the structure of a snowflake and the folds of Jen Davis's skin). By placing LeWitt's rigorous geometry alongside Pellegrin's chaotic war zones, Aperture 182 argues that "truth" in photography is found in both the abstract and the uncomfortably real.