cry·ing /ˈkrī-iNG/
the act is defined as a complex secretomotor phenomenon characterized by the shedding of tears from the lacrimal apparatus, without any irritation of the ocular structures.
Gracie Hagen – In an age where nudity is less vulnerable than genuine emotions, I wanted to explore an aspect of peoples lives that are hidden. These are the faces of the intentionally vulnerable. They’re showing you a part of themselves that is usually saved for their loved ones or even sometimes, just themselves. You don’t know why they are crying but you know that this is a rare look into a stranger’s most personal moments. Things that were private, now made public.
About Gracie Hagen
Gracie Hagen is an artist that currently resides in Chicago & is completely self taught. As a result, she’s developed a unique esthetic guided only by her desire to create the type of images that appeal to her. Her work has been featured on The Huffington Post, Beautiful Decay, The Daily Mail, & more. She also runs a commercial portrait studio (Gracie Hagen Photography) where she takes photos of families, couples & pets.
It is the honesty that draws her to photography & videography. The interesting complexity in people is what compels her to use the human form as the predominant subject. In her work she tries to capture questions about who we are & how we see ourselves. Her images serve to expose the open, vulnerable, & sometimes uncomfortable realities of our hidden nature. This process, revealing elements of our shared humanity, is fascinating; it allows her to simultaneously explore & illustrate feelings through her art while provoking social discourse.
She wants her work to show the core commonalities beneath our vast diversity. As such, her projects often features series where the angles, poses, & backdrops are unifying while the unique models & faces are as varied as humanity itself. We are all the same. We are all different. Even though multiple series contain unrelated themes, they are all illustrating unique parts of the same body. [Official Website]
