Photo by Lindsay Ellary
For those of us who grew up in the 1990s, we know that this long-lost era is much more than Kurt Cobain, Kate Moss and the Spice Girls. A new online exhibition called The Nineties Project brings together over 20 international creatives to honor the decade that defined style, music and art.
The exhibition is being hosted on Photential, a new photography platform founded by Dmitry Kurbatov, a photography fan who wanted to carve out a singular space to promote up-and-coming photographers with online exhibitions, editorial content and a way to buy the works, as well.
It is a way to introduce new photographers to a global audience, too, from portrait photographers to travel photographers, self-portrait artists, and more. This current exhibit, which runs through March, features photographers reflecting on the 1990s culture.
“When we speak about the 1990s, we usually think about pop icons or music groups, but we barely think about those things which remain in our mind, but are difficult to express visually,” said Kurbatov. “We wanted to explore the universe of feelings, emotions and memories about the era from a current perspective.”
For the online exhibition, the creative director Sonya Kvasha, senior fashion editor at Vogue Ukraine, chose photographic works by 10 artists born between 1990 and 1999 (one for each year during the decade).
“Each photographer reflected on the visual codes of the 1990s from a personal point of view,” said Kurbatov.
It includes artists from Mexico, Israel and Jamaica, and beyond, as each artist has a different perspective on the era. There are works by Ukranian photographer Kristina Podobed, who photographs the female body, as well as London-based photographer William Waterworth, who shoots moody, black and white portraits.
Award-winning photographer Tania Franco Klein is also featured in this exhibition, a photographer who is fascinated by culture’s “obsession with eternal youth.” Her artworks are exhibited alongside Russian nightlife photographer, Arnold Veber.
They wanted to show a different side of the 1990s than what most are expected to see. “We wanted to feature current artists, but also with a historic focus,” said Kurbatov.
Platforms like Photential are so important, especially considering that most people don't really know where to find photography prints besides IKEA (not everyone, but many). The curated selection on Photential is a good start.
“We believe that photography is not only an image, but it is also a generator of critical thinking and physical experiences,” said Kurbatov. “We never follow trends, in fact, we want to create them with our artists. Photential is also supported by an Advisory Committee of international industry experts, art directors, editors and creatives who share our mission.”
