An American Index Of The Hidden And Unfamiliar

In An American Index of the Hidden and Unfamiliar, Taryn Simon documents spaces that are integral to America's foundation, mythology and daily functioning, but remain inaccessible or unknown to a public audience. She has photographed rarely seen sites from domains including: science, government, medicine, entertainment, nature, security, and religion. The collection includes images of radioactive waste containers, high-security prison recreational facilities, the headquarters of the Ku Klux Klan, a Scientology seminar room, and a facade city built for urban warfare training. Each image is accompanied by a brief text written by the artist that explains what is seen and why it is hidden or off-limits. The work explores the fascination with forbidden territories and the darker side of democratic society.