Courtesy of Elizabeth Jordan
Elizabeth Jordan’s exhibit in the Gallatin Galleries portrays the daily struggles and triumphs of Ghanaians.
The title of Elizabeth Jordan's new photography exhibit, "Strength and Balance," comes from the Ghanaian tradition of women carrying and balancing large loads on their heads. But Jordan refuses to be called a feminist. If anything, she's a humanist.
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"I'm a photographer who wants to highlight the strengths and achievements of all people, really. We're one people, we live on one planet, and I think we should work together," Jordan said.
Her new exhibit, on display at the Gallatin Galleries, draws aesthetic inspiration from the powerful and elegant forms of Ghanaian women throughout their difficult day-to-day activities.
"To actually try and lift one of these loads and balance them with a baby on your back and walk 10 miles, you realize that this is quite an accomplishment," Jordan said. "And it's very visually beautiful because obviously it creates an incredible posture and a sense of dignity and strength that the woman kind of exudes."
When she's not snapping photos in Africa or Eastern Europe, Jordan is at home in London with her husband and five children, often commuting back to their former home in Moscow.
Before she became an avid traveler Jordan began her young adult life here at NYU. She met her husband and graduated in 1993 with a teaching degree. Now she's returned to show her work to the NYU community.
Jordan has been interested in the plight of women and children living in war-torn countries since her photography career began three years ago. Her prior exhibitions featured images from Moscow, Rwanda and Bosnia. All the proceeds from Jordan's past exhibits have gone to charities like Right to Play and Women for Women International.
In terms of her photographic style, Jordan usually takes candids rather than staged shots. She likes to take raw snapshots of the struggle and beauty of daily life.
CAS sophomore Emilia Jones particularly appreciated this element of Jordan's work.
"I think the photographs do their subjects justice by allowing us, the viewers, to glimpse them at vulnerable moments," Jones said.
Jordan also used a solarization effect to create colorfully saturated images, a technique CAS freshman Ali Shah found appealing.
"The photos were ... just stunning, especially when dark backgrounds were contrasted by vibrant colors. The photographer does a great job of using the two to create focal points in the pictures," Shah said.
Jordan said in the future she will expand her focus to include architecture and landscape. She's also looking at post-earthquake Haiti as a possible project.
"[I'm interested in] people who have been persecuted, people that have had just a horrible fate, bad luck. I just want to help people that need the help," she said.
The exhibit runs from March 8 to 12. All proceeds from the exhibit will go toward the NYU Ghana study abroad site.
