Eleven years ago, when I started photographing the U.S. Naval Station at Guantánamo Bay, I thought I was documenting a state of exception. But as presidential administrations came and went, from red to blue and back again, GTMO’s prison complex remained open, with Muslim men still held, many without charge or trial of any kind, as the “War on Terror” security and surveillance state grew ever stronger on the mainland. It has now been open an entire generation. 15 men remain held, of whom 3 are cleared for transfer out if a country can be found to accept them. Three will remain held indefinitely as “forever prisoners.”
Imprisoning people offshore, without charge or trial, is no longer the exception. It had become the rule well before January 20, 2025.
In 2022 and 2023 when I visited the U.S. Border Patrol Academy from my most recent book, Model Citizens/Citoyens Modèles, I thought of it too, as a site of exception. But government lawyers now claim unlimited executive power to round up alleged “terrorists” from within the US—including those who have done nothing more than express an opinion—to arrest them, to disappear and hold them incommunicado, and, without process of any kind (much less that which is legally due), to ship them offshore, including to Guantánamo Bay.
In this historical moment, I am ambivalent about sharing good news. But I’m posting to thank
@LACMA for acquiring four prints engaging with these themes:
1. Prayer Rug with Arrow to Mecca (2015),
2. Smoke Break, Camp America (2014),
3. Mourad, French Algerian (France) (2015),
all from Welcome to Camp America: Inside Guantánamo Bay; and
4. Judgment Scenario 1 (2022), made at the U.S. Border Patrol Academy, from Model Citizens.
It seems that everything I care about is under attack—universities and museums, the free press, civil and human rights, the equitable rule of law and democracy itself. I’m trying to take a long view, looking forward to my regularly scheduled critique of power in an imperfect democracy. I’m proud of everyone standing up and speaking out, and grateful to
@LACMA for seeing the value in this work.
!["Citoyens modèles" (2024) explore l’impact de la mise en scène et du jeu de rôle sur la citoyenneté, avec des images provenant de sites variés, tels que des scénarios d’entraînement à la Patrouille Frontalière et des rassemblements politiques de droite. Lauréate du Prix Elysée 2023, la photographe américaine Debi Cornwall (USA, 1973) présente le résultat de son projet dans le cadre des Rencontres d’Arles avec une exposition et cette publication édité par Radius en anglais et Textuel en français ℹ️ Disponible à la librairie-boutique de Photo Elysée · "Model Citizens" (2024) explores the impact of staging and role-playing on citizenship, with images from a variety of sites, such as Border Patrol training scenarios and right-wing political rallies. Winner of the Prix Elysée 2023, American photographer Debi Cornwall (USA, 1973) presents the results of her project at the Rencontres d’Arles with an exhibition and this publication, published by Radius in English and Textuel in French. ℹ️ Available from the Photo Elysée bookshop [Debi Cornwall, "Citoyens modèles" © Radius Book & Textuel] #photoelysee #plateforme10 #debiconrwall #book #rencontredarles #citoyensmodEles #livrephotographique @debicornwall @rencontresarles @parmigianifleurier @radius.books @editions_textuel @kriswritesbooks23 @vanessacodaccioni](https://sp1.picnob.com/p/pt_6870156749336043271567_0_fa324aebbc09e24791b480dcd74da763.jpg?o=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&h=63be04492961e37d3eb004780ebd7137)
