For the release of Sebastian Junger’s documentary on the life of Tim Hetherington, the International Center of Photography is presenting an exhibition of the photographer’s work. Hetherington was known for his empathy and his commitment, and this series pays tribute to that sensibility. Embedded with American troops in Afghanistan, Hetherington reveals their fragility by photographing the soldiers in their sleep, a state that many photographers have used as a metaphor for childhood, a state of utmost intimacy where the loss of control is total, a far cry from the intensity of combat.
For all these reasons, the series subtly reflects Hetherington’s humanity, his suggestive style, and his understanding of the impact of an image. He photographed wars for over ten years, but few of his images are graphic; he expressed violence by the indelible traces it leaves upon the population and the environment. His photographs of soldiers, displayed here in large format, call to mind Hetherington’s relationship with others, and his ability to instill a sense of trust in his subjects. This relationship cannot be read in the sleeping eyes of the soldiers, but in their willingness to let themselves be vulnerable. The warm flash adds to the delicateness of the series, dominated by yellows as soothing as sleep. This approach gives a reality to the nearly life-size images that is enhanced by the layout of the exhibition: the photographs are displayed one after the other, giving the visitors the impression that they are inspecting rows of military bunk beds. At night, the effect is all the more moving.
Laurence Cornet
Tim Hetherington Sleeping Soldiers
Until May, 13th 2013
ICP
1114 Avenue of the Americas (43rd Street)
New York
USA
