Diane Arbus (1923-1971)
During her lifetime and after her death, Diane Arbus became known for her willingness to tell stories on the margins and outskirts of society—without turning away or averting her eyes. Unlike many other street photographers of her time, she spent much of her time with the people she photographed, befriending them and learning about their lives.
“I am fascinated by photographers who challenge us and confront things we do not want to confront, so Diane Arbus is, of course, on my list,” the London-based photographer Manon Ouimet tells us. “She, like many of my favourite photographers, helped illuminate uncomfortable or unsavoury truths, bringing to light social issues within our communities.”
Manon looks up to Arbus, but she’s also created her own path, and in some ways, it’s one that diverges from Arbus’s. “My work was born from wanting to learn people’s stories and champion the beauty of every individual, but I also want to find new ways to use photography as a means to empower people and create social change,” she tells us. “I’m interested in the practice of the ‘therapeutic gaze,’ whereby the artistic process can take its participants on an emotional journey of self-discovery.”