For the past six weeks, I have been trying to connect with
the researcher and author, Kio Stark. I first became aware of Kio’s work in a TED video entitled, Why You Should Talk to Strangers. In it, she describes the beneficial effects for
us when we go out of our way to talk with strangers; making connections that
enhance our day as well as our lives. Shortly after watching the video, I read
her newly published book, When Strangers Meet, which further details the
concept of engaging with strangers.
The reason I’ve been wanting to meet up with Kio Stark has
much to do with the essential work I accomplish when I make formal street portraits
of people I meet.
In listening to her on the video, and reading her book, I came
to the realization that her research validates the unconscious motivation that
drives my desire to photograph people. It has to do
with the concept of street intimacy.
Here is how she describes the phenomena:
Talking to a stranger
is, at its best, an exquisite interruption of what you were expecting to happen…you
are…connected. Conversations with strangers fill an essential need….The name of
the need is intimacy.
There is [a] kind of
intimate relationship, one that holds us together for just a fleeting moment
and then vanishes….This is street intimacy.
Now that I have a way
of identifying the feeling that comes up for me, the need for connection when I see a stranger I wish to photograph, I want to develop a project that explores
the reciprocal of this phenomena. That is to say, when a person agrees to allow me to
make their portrait, does this fulfill their own need to make a connection? Is this what motivates people to trust me enough to render themselves a little bit vulnerable and permit me to make their portrait? Does street intimacy actually work both ways, or is their motivation driven by something
else?
It’s a question I’d like to pose to Kio Stark…if only I
could reach her. Her web site has no “contact me” platform, and a Google search
produces a small bit of information but no email address. So I’m left to
composing this blog post, inserting it in a tweet to her, and seeing if I can
connect.
Kio, here’s my web site: http://www.robertkalmanweb.com Here’s my email address: larreynaga13@gmail.com
Would really like to explore my project idea with you.
Thanks!
