Things We Have Made But Pretend Are Not There is an ongoing photography project. In this work, I aim to throw light upon what many often deny exists, but for which we bear responsibility as makers.

While there are numerous interpretations of this concept in continual development, the most simple example is this: in New York City (my home), many of us are encouraged to look at landmark skyscrapers, public art, and groomed green-space. These are privileged views. If this is all we choose to see, we overlook a great variety of things that are not considered quite as objectively beautiful, like taxi depots and industrial parks that make our city functional. Like stoop giveaways that expose physical evidence of parts of our lives that we are trying to shed. Like the gas stations that fuel our daily movement. Another example of this idea is things that are antiquated or dilapidated but of which we have not disposed, like card catalogs, phone booths, and tumbledown camper trailers in the woods. Or the things we hide behind closet and cabinet doors. Although their beauty is regularly ignored, I choose to uphold it through this work.

A social example illustrative of Things We Have Made But Pretend Are Not There is institutional racism. Others: gun violence, rape culture, and religion. Another two: transphobia and homophobia. Sometimes we pretend that these things are not there because it’s more comfortable and convenient. This, again, is a privilege for some of us. Sometimes we want to believe that problems we used to have are no longer problems. Sometimes we want not to feel guilty or afraid. While photographs in this series have not yet explicitly covered these social phenomena, they exist within the context of a time of deep struggle. I’m working on finding ways to more explicitly acknowledge them in my work– I see these things and will not pretend I don’t.

Photographs in this project are made using various 35mm and 120mm film cameras and an iPhone– the tools of the photographic vernacular with which I am most familiar and have on hand. Photographs in this project have been made in places like New York City, Nashville, Austin, and Maine, beginning in late 2012. The project’s progress can be tracked here on this website and on Instagram using the hashtag: #thingswehavemadebutpretendarenotthere.

If you want to have a conversation about anything I’m seeing or saying, please reach out. I consider my work as part of a greater dialogue with my surroundings, and you’re part of that.

Sincerely,
Emily Snedecor Knowlton