Photographer<strong> Angelica Dass</strong> says she doesn't believe she'll ever capture every shade of human skin. But after shooting 2,500 portraits she has come closer than any other person to cataloging how far the spectrum of human skin extends.
Humanæ: Skin tones matched to Pantone printing cards —
Photographer Angelica Dass says she doesn't believe she'll ever capture every shade of human skin. But after shooting 2,500 portraits she has come closer than any other person to cataloging how far the spectrum of human skin extends.
Courtesy Angelica Dass
Her project <a href="http://humanae.tumblr.com/" target="_blank" target="_blank"><em>Humanæ</em></a><em> </em>is a "chromatic inventory," explains Dass, based on "a series of portraits whose background is dyed with the exact Pantone [printing color chart] tone extracted from a sample of 11x11 pixels of the portrayed's face."
Her project Humanæ is a "chromatic inventory," explains Dass, based on "a series of portraits whose background is dyed with the exact Pantone [printing color chart] tone extracted from a sample of 11x11 pixels of the portrayed's face."
Courtesy Angelica Dass
Despite 3 years' work, spanning the world, shooting in 12 cities from Daegu, South Korea to Valparaiso, Chile, 36-year-old Dass believes the project still has a long way to go yet. "<em>Humanæ</em> is a work in progress," she says, "...infinite and unfinished."
Despite 3 years' work, spanning the world, shooting in 12 cities from Daegu, South Korea to Valparaiso, Chile, 36-year-old Dass believes the project still has a long way to go yet. "Humanæ is a work in progress," she says, "...infinite and unfinished."
Courtesy Angelica Dass
This simple concept has a subtle goal. "It is a kind of game for subverting our codes," says the artist, explaining that no reference is made anywhere to the subject's "nationality, origin, economic status, age or aesthetic standards."
This simple concept has a subtle goal. "It is a kind of game for subverting our codes," says the artist, explaining that no reference is made anywhere to the subject's "nationality, origin, economic status, age or aesthetic standards."
Courtesy Angelica Dass
Backed by the color chart, the series is able to diminish the importance of race, explains Spanish curator <a href="http://www.worldpressphoto.org/people/alejandro-castellote" target="_blank" target="_blank">Alejandro Castellote</a> -- creating instead "a degree of <em>hierarchical horizontality</em> that dilutes the false preeminence of some races over others based on skin color or social condition." (emphasis added)
Backed by the color chart, the series is able to diminish the importance of race, explains Spanish curator Alejandro Castellote -- creating instead "a degree of hierarchical horizontality that dilutes the false preeminence of some races over others based on skin color or social condition." (emphasis added)
Courtesy Angelica Dass
All those photographed are volunteers, explains Dass, who travel to one of her shoots -- which have also taken place in Madrid, Addis Ababa, and Rio de Janeiro -- be part of the show. Models often bring with them surprising new lessons for the artist, she explains.
All those photographed are volunteers, explains Dass, who travel to one of her shoots -- which have also taken place in Madrid, Addis Ababa, and Rio de Janeiro -- be part of the show. Models often bring with them surprising new lessons for the artist, she explains.
Courtesy Angelica Dass
"I make discoveries all the time photographing," says Dass. "Regarding <em>Humanæ</em>, the first is: what motivates more than 2500 unknown people to participate in a project like this?"
"I make discoveries all the time photographing," says Dass. "Regarding Humanæ, the first is: what motivates more than 2500 unknown people to participate in a project like this?"
Courtesy Angelica Dass
Here, she finds an answer in the project's fundamental narrative power: "Because in this work is 'the others' who are telling my history, that finally are their own stories."
Here, she finds an answer in the project's fundamental narrative power: "Because in this work is 'the others' who are telling my history, that finally are their own stories."
Courtesy Angelica Dass
The project is currently on exhibition at the Gund Gallery in Gambier, Ohio -- it has already traveled the world from <a href="http://www.levante-emv.com/cultura/2014/10/01/colores-mundo/1168520.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">Valencia, Spain</a> to <a href="http://africasacountry.com/lagosphoto-is-five-years-old/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Lagos, Nigeria</a> -- and over 2000 portraits can be seen online at the <a href="http://humanae.tumblr.com/" target="_blank" target="_blank"><em>Humanæ</em> tumblr</a>.
The project is currently on exhibition at the Gund Gallery in Gambier, Ohio -- it has already traveled the world from Valencia, Spain to Lagos, Nigeria -- and over 2000 portraits can be seen online at the Humanæ tumblr.
Courtesy Angelica Dasss
The series started as Dass' submission for her masters degree in photography. Her family -- Brazilians with diverse cultural and racial backgrounds -- acted as the first models.
The series started as Dass' submission for her masters degree in photography. Her family -- Brazilians with diverse cultural and racial backgrounds -- acted as the first models.
Courtesy Angelica Dass
Since Dass began to share the portraits on Tumblr, the project has taken on a life of its own: "<em>Humanæ</em> has generated a lot of areas, materials, attitudes, knowledge and human meaning, expression, communication...out of my control and that were not originally planned," she says.
Since Dass began to share the portraits on Tumblr, the project has taken on a life of its own: "Humanæ has generated a lot of areas, materials, attitudes, knowledge and human meaning, expression, communication...out of my control and that were not originally planned," she says.
Courtesy Angelica Dass
The artist says she has seen it be used by scientists to discuss how human sight works, and "in educational textbooks, by teachers who make <em>Humanæ</em> a tool to talk about equality or anthropological realities."
The artist says she has seen it be used by scientists to discuss how human sight works, and "in educational textbooks, by teachers who make Humanæ a tool to talk about equality or anthropological realities."
Courtesy Angelica Dass
It has even been used by adoptive families to "help children to identify themselves as unique."
It has even been used by adoptive families to "help children to identify themselves as unique."
Courtesy Angelica Dass
"I'm collecting stories," says Dass. "And this is as important as collecting images."
"I'm collecting stories," says Dass. "And this is as important as collecting images."
Courtesy Angelica Dass
The photographer says the project could only be completed by portraying "all of mankind," but in the shorter term she hopes to hold photographic sessions on each continent, and to broadening representation as far as possible.
The photographer says the project could only be completed by portraying "all of mankind," but in the shorter term she hopes to hold photographic sessions on each continent, and to broadening representation as far as possible.
Courtesy Angelica Dass
As the project develops it takes in more colors, and her all encompassing vision is gradually becoming clear, after some questions were raised <br />
As the project develops it takes in more colors, and her all encompassing vision is gradually becoming clear, after some questions were raised
Courtesy Angelica Dass
"In the beginning of the project I have received mail with criticism, focusing on the lack of ethnic diversity in the project."
"In the beginning of the project I have received mail with criticism, focusing on the lack of ethnic diversity in the project."
Courtesy Angelica Dass
"A U.S. Senator said that they 'love Humanae,' but that they were disappointed that the rich dark colors of Central Africa and India are not shown and that they hope they get at least as much attention as the European shades."
"A U.S. Senator said that they 'love Humanae,' but that they were disappointed that the rich dark colors of Central Africa and India are not shown and that they hope they get at least as much attention as the European shades."
Courtesy Angelica Dass
Dass says she believes the projects has connected the subjects together. Her ultimate goal is to create "a discussion platform on identity," creating images that provoke us to see ourselves in them. "We all have this desire [for] "humanity" in common."
Dass says she believes the projects has connected the subjects together. Her ultimate goal is to create "a discussion platform on identity," creating images that provoke us to see ourselves in them. "We all have this desire [for] "humanity" in common."
Courtesy Angelica Dass
<em>To see over 2000 portraits, go to the </em><a href="http://humanae.tumblr.com/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Humanæ <em>tumblr</em></a><em>. </em>
To see over 2000 portraits, go to the Humanæ tumblr.
Courtesy Angelica Dass