Artist Feature: Deanna Templeton
Deanna Templeton (born 1969, lives and works in Southern California) is an American photographer known for her documentary and serial work exploring youth culture and feminine identity. Since the 1990s Templeton has explored many subjects, from the nude body in her book “The Swimming Pool” (Um Yeah Arts 2016) to street photography at night in her book “The Moon Has Lost Her Memory” (Super Labo 2017) and contrasting her own tumultuous adolescence with young women growing up in our current era in her book “What She Said”, (Mack Books 2021.) Her work has been exhibited in galleries and museums worldwide.
To pull a line from this exhibition’s namesake song:
“What she said was sad / But then, all the rejection she’s had / To pretend to be happy / Could only be idiocy”
“How perfectly that Smith’s song illustrated my youth. I had been shooting in the streets for years, both candidly and asking for portraits with no particular grand scheme. But over the last 5 years I came to a realization that many of the women that I was approaching for portraits had something in common. They were me when I was their age, or they were what I wanted to be. Once this became apparent my focus shifted and this project became clear to me. I was drawn to these women for a reason. Young girls today are living in a much different world than I did, but the experience of growing up female is universal no matter what the time. I see my own struggles, disappointments and bravery in these girls. I decided to take these modern portraits and pair them with my own teenage journal entries from the mid to late 80’s. As someone who survived a bumpy transition into adulthood I hope that this look into my teen-aged mindset and dramas along with these modern girls evolving into womanhood will give hope that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and we will all look back and smile at how intensely life felt at that age.”
1. Deanna Templeton. Image from What She Said (MACK, 2021). Courtesy the artist and MACK.
2. Deanna Templeton. Image from What She Said (MACK, 2021). Courtesy the artist and MACK.
3. Deanna Templeton. Image from What She Said (MACK, 2021). Courtesy the artist and MACK.
5. Deanna Templeton. Image from What She Said (MACK, 2021). Courtesy the artist and MACK.
6. Deanna Templeton. Image from What She Said (MACK, 2021). Courtesy the artist and MACK.
Q: Can you share something you've learned from creating this body of work that would resonate with our community?
DT: Trying not to be so hard on yourself, giving yourself a break, time. When I was reading through all my old diary entries I couldn't get over how hard I was on myself, the expectations I tried to live up to from looking at all the fashion magazines that were around in the 80's. I didn't understand the difference between fantasy and reality when I was younger. I'm almost 52 now and it wasn't until probably when I was in my mid 30's that I realised I was good enough, that everyone I was comparing myself to or fashion/media was trying to compare me to didn't matter anymore, it was a waste of time. I would rather be body positive than waste one more breath on what I could pick a part. Life is way too short.
Q: Tell us about your work process! Do you plan your images ahead or are you more improvisational?
DT: For the most part, definitely with this series for What She Said, it was more improvisational. Up until about 15 years ago the young women I was shooting were all found walking around the streets, either where I live in California or sometimes when I would travel. If I saw someone with a look I liked or could relate to I would gather up my courage and go ask for a portrait. Not knowing what I'll be using the image for, I just knew I had to shoot them. But in the last 5 years when I was looking through my photo archive I started to notice that a lot of the young women I was shooting all had something in common. They either reminded me of myself when I was their age or how I wish I could've been like. Around the same time I reacquainted myself with my diary and journal entries and thought I might have something here. Then from there on I was actively looking, asking friends of friends if I could shoot them, if they would mind me getting a closer look at their personal spaces as well. When I was a teenager my bedroom was just as much a part of my identity, from the posters, photos and records that laid around my room.
7. Deanna Templeton. Image from What She Said (MACK, 2021). Courtesy the artist and MACK.
8. Deanna Templeton. Image from What She Said (MACK, 2021). Courtesy the artist and MACK.
Q: What types of expectations for artists are most challenging to you today?
DT: Well it's my own expectation, just to try to do the right thing, not to purposely cause harm to anyone. A lot of what I photograph falls under more of Street Photography. I have worked on a couple of projects that were more thought out but most of the time I'm just walking around shooting whatever excites me enough to press the shutter release. So when I get my proof sheets back, (I shoot analog) and I'm looking over what I've shot there might be a photo of someone or something that might be a little compromising. I need to figure out how I can share this, should I share this, is there a story here with something to say or is it just exploiting someone or something. I don't want to censor myself, I just want to really know why this photo matters, to really understand what I'm trying to say/share.
Q: What is your advice to young and aspiring photographers?
DT: Keep shooting, share your work either through social media or better yet make a zine! That's how I started and though social media wasn't around when I was younger I still believe having something more tangible in your hands, that you can flip through and send out or drop off at your local bookstore is a pretty good feeling.
12. Deanna Templeton. Image from What She Said (MACK, 2021). Courtesy the artist and MACK.
Q: What does being a feminist mean to you?
DT: Equality, rights, self confidence, self love.
Q: Do you have any upcoming events, exhibitions, or news you'd like to share?
ML: MJust that my new book is out, "What She Said". Published by MACK Books.
Follow @deannatempleton and buy "What She Said”, published by MACK Books
