Sarah Palmer’s ‘The Village of Reason’ Searches for Tranquility Amongst Chaos

The Village of Reason fits, perhaps awkwardly, into various photographic genres, with images ranging from the seemingly straight to the experimental. The possible disjointedness of these studies is purposeful: I hope that the viewer will question the connections and contradictions within the works as I present them. The series asks questions but does not necessarily provide answers. It is rooted in metaphor and meant to be interrogated, as one would read a poem. Herein, one can view desires both personal and universal, as well as uncertainties and doubts about femininity and identity.—Sarah Palmer

Unlike traditional photographic projects, Brooklyn-based photographer Sarah Palmer does not set parameters for herself. Her work emerges from her interior practice, from what she reads and discovers in the world, and then from what she brings back to her studio to study or build. In this particular series, The Village of Reason, Palmer searches for tranquility and reason amid the tumult of contemporary life, at the same time acknowledging that chaos is inherent in existence.

Feature Shoot Contributing Editor Julia Sabot is the Associate Photo Editor at Dwell.

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