NYC Gazette

Photography has long influenced societal power structures, particularly in crime and punishment. An exhibition at The Met showcases immersive contemporary installations by artist Jesse Krimes, alongside 19th-century photographs by French criminologist Alphonse Bertillon. Bertillon is known for developing the first modern criminal identification system before fingerprinting became standard.

Jesse Krimes, an American artist born in 1982, created his image-based installations during a six-year incarceration period. Without traditional materials, he used prison-issued soap, hair gel, playing cards, and newspapers to produce art that challenges the conventional circulation of photographs in media. His work is displayed at The Met alongside Bertillon's pioneering method that combined anthropomorphic measurements with photographs to create the modern mug shot.

Krimes's art questions the perceived neutrality of identification systems and the social hierarchies they perpetuate. Known for valuing collaboration and activism, Krimes founded the Center for Art and Advocacy. This organization highlights the creative potential of individuals who have experienced incarceration and aims to support formerly incarcerated artists.

The exhibition is made possible by Joyce Frank Menschel.