The Hereditary Estate - Photographs and text by Daniel...

9/12/17, 2(58 PMThe Hereditary Estate - Photographs and text by Daniel Coburn | LensCulture

of 19https://www.lensculture.com/articles/daniel-coburn-the-hereditary-estate

F E A T U R E

The Hereditary EstateCreated as an antidote to the idealized family pictures gathered by hisrelatives, a striking series that considers the role of the photo album indefining “the American Dream.”

Photographs and text by Daniel Coburn

Dissatisfied with the dearth of photographs depicting his family and the unique (and attimes “troubling”) relationships that define it, photographer Daniel Coburn picked uphis camera and created this series that, in his words, acts as a “potent amendment tothe idealized family album assembled by my family members.”

To wit, Coburn doesn’t shy away from turning his lens towards moments ofvulnerability, awkwardness, or pain. But the striking black-and-white images in hisseries “The Hereditary Estate” are an interesting mix: they are both intimate anddistant—some of the photographs indicate a closeness, a familial attachment that isevident from the outside.

Strangely, though, the series also includes a set of images where it seems that thephotographer is straining to understand, to make a connection. The figures in theseshots are physically farther away, sure, but there’s also a palpable thickness in the airbetween us and them. This feeling coagulates into an emotional wall that distances usfrom these people. The strength of “The Hereditary Estate” is partly found in its abilityto embody both feelings of intimate closeness as well as distance—a contradictionpresent in every family.

Figuration © Daniel Coburn +

Even without any prior knowledge of the series, viewers feel that something is amiss—ashadow creeps around the edges of the exchanges and interactions that Coburncaptured on film. “I made these photographs in order to examine the family photoalbum’s role as a visual infrastructure that supports the ideology of the AmericanDream,” he says. “As I became an adult, my parents began to reveal details of a darkfamily history—the evidence of which had been removed and hidden away in thecorners of our family sanctuary.”

Chamber © Daniel Coburn

Although the specific details of this “dark family history” are never revealed, Coburn’spiercing portraits of his family members create their own quiet narrative of personalconflict. But by keeping all of these secrets and stories untold, Coburn’s images remainrespectful, giving their subjects space when needed, and delving deeper as allowed. “Imade these images in an attempt to honor our relationships and remain true to ourhistory,” Coburn says. His series is an embodiment of these desires: an honest portraitof family dynamics and complexities as well as a tender document of Coburn’srelationships.

—Coralie Kraft

Resurrection © Daniel Coburn

If you’re interested in seeing more work like this, we’d recommend the followingfeatures: This is Not Your Family(https://www.lensculture.com/articles/matt-eich-this-is-not-your-family), Matt Eich’s exploration of the “American condition” and his family; FaultLine (https://www.lensculture.com/articles/sophie-barbasch-fault-line),a series that explores the hidden imperfections and deep-rooted support inherent inevery family; and Sauna: Requiem from the North(https://www.lensculture.com/articles/robert-blomback-sauna-requiem-from-the-north), a poetic series shot in one of Sweden’s remote archipelagos.

Lovers Embrace © Daniel Coburn +

Scattering Seeds © Daniel Coburn +

Ascent © Daniel Coburn +

The Matriarch © Daniel Coburn +

Taker of Tolls © Daniel Coburn +

Interment © Daniel Coburn +

Trending this Week

(/daniel-coburn)

DANIEL COBURN (/DANIEL- COBURN)United States

View Profile (/daniel-coburn)

The Hereditary Estate - Photographs and text by Daniel...

Documents

Understanding Hereditary Breast & Ovarian Cancer – … · 4 understanding hereditary breast & ovarian cancer – the brca genes understanding hereditary breast & ovarian cancer

Hereditary Traits

Troubling News… …in Genetics?

Hereditary patterns

Hereditary pancreatitis

Daikin Altherma™ Troubling Shooting

Hereditary Haemochromatosis - HSE.ie › eng › health › az › h › haemochromatos... · What is Hereditary Haemochromatosis? Hereditary Haemochromatosis (HH) is a common autosomal

Troubling Freedom by Natasha Lightfoot

Hereditary renal tumors: General Hereditary Renal Tumors · 2015-06-08 · 5/23/2015 1 Hereditary Renal Tumors Karuna Garg, MD University of California San Francisco Hereditary renal

Hereditary Diseases

TROUBLING FUTURES: SCENARIOS AND SCENARIO PLANNING …

Dealing with Troubling Thoughts

Hereditary Angioedema

QUASI-HEREDITARY ALGEBRAS, EXACT BOREL SUBALGEBRAS, A ... · Every quasi-hereditary algebra is Morita equivalent to a quasi-hereditary algebra A(with corresponding quasi-hereditary

Hereditary Cancer Program · hereditary cancer syndrome, in your family, you may be referred to the Hereditary Cancer Program for more information. What’s hereditary cancer syndrome?

Troubling Anniversaries

Preview Bellringer Key Ideas What Are Hereditary Diseases? Types of Hereditary Diseases Coping with Hereditary Diseases Future Medical Treatment for Hereditary

Hereditary Cancer Syndrome Multigene Panels...Title Hereditary Cancer Syndrome Multigene Panels Subject Hereditary Cancer Syndrome Created Date 20190522212612Z

Hereditary Musician Groups!! of Pakistani Punjabpunjab.global.ucsb.edu/sites/secure.lsit.ucsb.edu.gisp.d7_sp/files/... · Lowell Lybarger: Hereditary Musician Groups 97 Hereditary!Musician!Groups!!

Troubled Waters, Troubling Trends