This blog is part of a series of exclusive interviews with the winners of The Fence 2016. The Fence is an large-scale outdoor photography installation exhibited in multiple major cities across the USA. Each year, photographers of all levels are invited to submit work that fits under one or more thematic categories. The Fence was conceived by United Photo Industries and Photo District News in 2011.
---
Lauren Fleishman is an American photographer based in London and New York. Born and raised in New York, she attended the School of Visual Arts and was awarded a full scholarship to study at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris. She has been a visiting artist at The School of Visual Arts, New School, International Center of Photography and Rochester Institute of Technology. She is a contributor to M, le magazine du Monde, The New York Times and Time Magazine. Her work is among the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institute. Her book, The Lovers, was published in 2015 by Schilt Publishing.
Talk to us about your series 'The Lovers' -Where and why did this project come about?
The project was inspired by a series of love letters my grandfather had written to my grandmother during World War II. The letters showed me a side of my grandfather that I hadn't know - him as a young man, filled with the joy of being a newlywed. In one of the letters, my grandfather wrote to my grandmother, "I love you with all my heart, and will continue to do so for the rest of my life." As a young woman, it was the type of sentiment I could understand and relate to. The letters made me realize the importance of romantic histories, and inspired me to seek out and record the love stories of other long-married couples.
Why photography? What does the medium mean to you?
I realized early on in my career that photography can connect people to places and experiences they wouldn't normally see, and I believe that these shared experiences and sense of understanding are what enriches our lives. Photography can connect and give a voice to people in extraordinary ways. For me, photography has allowed me to travel and document and see and experience so many places.
Do you have a photographic philosophy?
I believe photography is like a language. The more you practice, the easier it is to communicate through your work.
What’s next for you?
I am working on my next book.
LaurenFleishman.com
fence.photoville.com
