Ohio-born, Israeli-raised, Brooklyn-based photographer Rachel Papo completed her MFA thesis project in 2005, photographing women serving in the Israeli military. Her interest in this subject began with her own service as a photographer in the Israeli Air Force. The project, named for her own military ID number, is coming out soon as a book published by the always awesome powerHouse Books.

Here's an excerpt from the artist's statement:
The photographs in this collection serve as a bridge between past and present—a combination of my own recollections and the experiences of the girls who I observed. Each image embodies traces of things that I recognize, illuminating fragments of my history, striking emotional chords that resonate within me. In some way, each is a self-portrait, depicting a young woman caught in transient moments of introspection and uncertainty, trying to make sense of a challenging daily routine. In striving to maintain her gentleness and femininity, the soldier seems to be questioning her own identity, embracing the fact that two years of her youth will be spent in a wistful compromise.







Thanks to Zach Korman for the tip!


Posted by James Friedman

It appears you don't have Flash installed.