Nikki S. Lee is a Korean born American (B1970) Best known for her chameleon like identity shifting images of photographs of American subculture. Where she infiltrates these cultures and gets passers by to take her photograph on a disposable camera.
Her self portraits are reminiscent of photographer Cindy Sherman. Dressed and made up in different outfits, Lee posed herself as a punk, Hispanic woman, or black hip-hop star. Lee’s work comes across as voyeuristic, I get the impression she has viewed these groups of people from afar, wanting to engage but not knowing how. The set does not come across as exploitative if anything I believe the transitions of Lee into the characters is more of an homage than any form of disrespect. I think it is more of a statement of her own cultural identity than that of others.
Ben's Blog 