Jessica Backhaus

"While I was working on this long-term project, it was important for me to have freedom within my work – meaning to be able to work in an environment where I was accepted and allowed to photograph whatever I wanted. Therefore I needed trust, and I can honestly say that without the trust and generosity of the residents this project would have not seen the light of day. Whenever I was taking pictures, the people were aware of my actions and me. They saw me setting up my tripod in all different corners of their homes, and observed me with a mixture of amusement, disbelief and wonder. I guess for many inhabitants it was unusual having somebody there who was interested in their homes and themselves. In my opinion documentary is a form given more to capturing an event or moment. I was attracted more to the way of life, the space that these people live in. Visually, I felt that it was so strong that there was no need to actually document their day to day life; it gave me a way to be there without being intrusive. The result lets the viewer be the detective." -Jessica Backhaus

Jessica Backhaus was born in Cuxhaven, Germany, and currently resides in New York. At the age of sixteen, she moved to Paris, where she spent the next eight years, studying photography and visual communications and working as a picture editor. During that time she met Gisele Freund, who becomes her mentor. Her work has been shown in numerous solo and group exhibitions in Europe and the United States including the National Portrait Gallery, London and the MartinGropius-Bau, Berlin. Jessica Backhaus is represented by the Yancey Richardson Gallery, 535 W. 22nd St., www.yancyrichardson.com. Jessica Backhaus, Jesus and the Cherries, Kehrer Verlag, 2006 Jessica Backhausʼ website is www.jessicabackhaus.net.