Exhibition Review: Kelli Connell's Double Life, 20 Years
Picnic © Kelli Connell
By Hana Kaneko
The Alice Housten House is currently showing an online exhibition of Kelli Connell’s Double Life, 20 Years. Connell began the project twenty years ago after ending a long term relationship and started to question her identity. By using the same model - Kiba Jacobson - to portray two separate “selves” in each image, the photographs are able to portray the fluidity and multiplicity of oneself regarding gender and sexuality.
The Valley © Kelli Connell
Connell’s process involved using a self-timer on the shutter so she could join the frame as a stand-in for Jacobson. This results in two constantly changing between “characters”. These “characters” in the photographs are different versions and identities of Connell interacting with each other. The goal of showcasing these different identities is not to be entirely autobiographical but to share the universal experience of a woman discovering herself. In addition, because the project took place over twenty years, the photographs reflect the evolution of Connell’s perspective on identity. It allows her to uncover the desires and discoveries of the minds of “older women,” whose narratives often tend to be left out or forgotten.
Windowsill © Kelli Connell
This project also has the rare instance that the photographer herself is not behind the camera. Each photograph took multiple exposures and was a slow process which captured the emotional intimacy that Cornell was looking for. This has developed a strong relationship between Connell and Jacobson through twenty years. They both watched each other get married, Kiba gave birth to a son, and supported each other through the ups and downs of life. Although Connell is not in the photographs, the viewer can see the emotional connection.
Carnival © Kelli Connell
The Austen House has become a pillar of LGBTQ+ history and the perfect place for Double Life, 20 Years to be exhibited. It is available on their website for virtual view. To access, click here.
Convertible © Kelli Connell
