The exhibition Truth Told Slant at The High Museum in Atlanta explores a recent shift in photographic practice, wherein photographers are increasingly embracing a stylistically expressive approach to capturing the world around them. Instead of adhering to the traditional documentary style characterized by dispassionate observation, these artists utilize a narrative technique similar to literary nonfiction, skillfully navigating between observational and narrative modes while infusing their own subjectivity into their work.
The title of the exhibition, drawn from an Emily Dickinson poem, highlights the sidelong and deeply personal methods employed by these artists to interpret the current social and political landscape. Featuring five artists—Jill Frank, Rose Marie Cromwell, Zora J Murff, Kristine Potter, and Tommy Kha—this exhibition addresses issues that have challenged documentary photographers for decades and continue to resonate today. They delve into subjects central to American life, including race and inequality, identity and sexual orientation, immigration and globalization, youth and coming of age, climate change and environmental justice, as well as the pervasive incidence of violence. Through their work, they aim to uncover deeper truths and reshape prevailing narratives, favoring a nuanced and emotional approach over a strictly didactic one.
