Imperial Courts 1993-2015

About The Exhibition

Belfast Exposed is delighted to present Imperial Courts 1993-2015 by Dana Lixenberg, winner of the 20^th Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize (2017). This solo exhibition is the first showing of the award-winning photographer’s work on the island of Ireland.

In 1992, Dana Lixenberg was commissioned to document the areas of Los Angeles affected by the ‘Rodney King riots’, which erupted following the acquittal of four LAPD officers for the use of excessive force in the arrest of Rodney King. This visit inspired Lixenberg to return to LA and start her own project in 1993, which led her to the Imperial Courts housing project located in Watts, Los Angeles.

In contrast to an often one-dimensional, sensationalized journalistic approach, Lixenberg employed a controlled and collaborative photographic approach, using the communal areas of Imperial Courts as her studio. She began to create large-format, black and white portraits of the residents, using natural light. These photographs, taken at a pivotal time in the history of the community, form the basis of her largest body of work to date.

In following years, the photographer stayed in contact with the community, returning in 2008 to revisit the series, capturing individual and collective personal stories. Over the years, lives had been lost, people had disappeared or gone to jail, and children of early photographs had grown up and had families of their own. Lixenberg’s photographs became valued mementos for those she photographed and for the community as a whole. During these visits, she began to make audio recordings of people’s reactions to the images, which can be heard in the gallery alongside the final publication of the photobook entitled Imperial Courts (ROMA Publications, 2015). As a further response, she also created a web documentary, which can be accessed at www.imperialcourtsproject.com

Spanning 22 years (1993-2015), Imperial Courts subtly addresses issues of inequality and injustice while avoiding stereotypical representation. Using multiple platforms, from silver gelatin prints, a carefully edited publication, video installation, and an online web documentary, the project serves as an evocative record of the passage of time in an underserved community. The power of Lixenberg’s work can be found in the intimacy, compassion and quiet confidence of her images, and of the individuals we meet through the series.