ICP Teen Academy
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Isabella Kahn
Within our intimate spaces, the past and present coexist in the form of the objects we associate with different stages of our identity. Their presence is not only physical, but our emotional attachment to our valuables creates a metaphorical weight that possesses the gravity to reshape our life. In this series of images, I draw connections between aspects of stellar dynamics and general relativity to my relationship with my past identities and how they are physically defined within my current life.
The light radiating from these objects is a reflection of who we once were, as the stars we view at night are a reflection of what the universe once was. The universe, much like our world, is changing at an unimaginable rate. Our perception of our identity is only as accurate as our last introspection. It is almost impossible to consciously exist in the present.
As the world continues to challenge our perspective, we look to the ever-present stars for solace.
Isabella Kahn is a Chinese-American adoptee, born in Tonggu County, China, and raised in River Edge, New Jersey. Over the four years, her work has progressed from observing decisive moments to creating conceptual abstractions regarding materialism. Isabella is fascinated by metaphysical relativism and analyzes cultural significance of inanimate objects. She looks to Duane Michals, Nell Dorr, and the film, 2001: A Space Odyssey, for inspiration. Isabella has been nationally recognized by the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and has showcased her photographs at the Montclair Art Museum and Drexel University. She currently studies in Teen Academy at the International Center of Photography and will spend the next four years immersing herself in the medium at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University.
The light radiating from these objects is a reflection of who we once were, as the stars we view at night are a reflection of what the universe once was. The universe, much like our world, is changing at an unimaginable rate. Our perception of our identity is only as accurate as our last introspection. It is almost impossible to consciously exist in the present.
As the world continues to challenge our perspective, we look to the ever-present stars for solace.