Baptist Churchgoer/White Supremacist, 2004/2003
In America, the chasm between rich and poor is growing, the clash between conservatives and liberals is strengthening, and even good and evil seem more polarized than ever before. At the heart of this collection of portraits is my desire to remind us that we were all equal, until our environment, circumstances, or fate, molded and weathered us into whom we have become.
Artist and photographer Mark Laita, on his photo series, Created Equal
Take a quick glance at the images on this page. I dare you not to. They are from a series of work by Los Angeles based Mark Laita, who steps behind the camera in both the commercial world and the art world. In Created Equal, Laita juxtaposes two images of people or groups who are divided not only by the two photo frames, but by “circumstances, fate, or environment.”
Once we read the captions, we see the illusive line drawn in the sand between two radically opposing demographics (such as a black Baptist minister next to Ku Klux Klan members, robe-clad, the lot of them). Beyond the evocative, brilliant portraiture, qualified in their own aesthetic right, Laita’s over-arching point is simple:
We are all created equal.
As a yogi, I, too, hold that truth to be self-evident. Being a bleeding heart chakra liberal, I’m listening in the choir as we’re shown how the rich deserve no more rights than the poor. And, being a fool for provocative imagery, well, preach on, Reverend Laita.
I recently interviewed Mark Laita about his Created Equal series (it is now a book) for Yoga Modern’s Art Current. Though I have a background as a curator of contemporary art and found myself wanting to explore his work from an art historical approach, what really drew me to share his work with our yoga community is the way his images challenge us to question yoga’s avowed democracy. Yoga means union, right?
We yogis are among the first to wave the “we are all equal” flag. But would we honestly walk the talk and bring equanimity (something we yoga teachers love to preach about) to our relations with these folk? Would we Wanderlusting liberals truly accept each of the people in Laita’s diptychs?
Would you have the white supremacist over for tea and cookies?
Amish Teenagers/Punk Teenagers, 2004/2004
I want for us to talk about this, yogis, but first, let’s see what the artist had in mind:
ML: As I see people, I am amazed how circumstances, fate, or our environment direct us into who we have become. What judgement am I making by showing any two images together? Created Equal simply shows real examples of these ironic twists of fate….Life can be painful and funny at the same time.
In the end, all that really matters are the meaningful relationships we have with each other.
I guess in some way these portraits are a study of all of our different paths and self-deceptions. All people on Earth, even radical Islamic fundamentalists, strive to be fulfilled. Shelter, food, companionship, and happiness are things most of us wish for our children and ourselves. Every person in this collection is aiming toward that goal.
Polygamist/Pimp, 2003/2004
I invite you to take a long, hard look at Mark Laita’s subjects. (More here.)
How do you reconcile your beliefs about equality when meeting someone whose views or lifestyle are diametrically opposed to your own?
How do you engage with people who provoke more of the activist in you than the accepter?
I love this, such powerful images. Thanks for sharing.
If we were all color blind and deaf to the noise would it be any different? I say hmmm.
I am curious if the love everyone philosophy reaches as far as loving the people you don't agree with? To truly see no color, see no difference and embrace "At the heart of this collection of portraits is my desire to remind us that we were all equal, until our environment, circumstances, or fate, molded and weathered us into whom we have become.", you have to be loving and accepting of those who anger you, who you disagree fundamentally with and allow for their differences without discounting their value simply because you don't believe the same thing or agree. Can the bleeding chakra heart liberal embrace and love the conservative? Can the bleeding chakra heart liberal embrace and love the pimp, or the KKK member? If you say no…I think we all need to reevaluate the fundamentals that being a liberal means.
Inquiring Mind, it is a challenge…with my yoga understanding, I can see that those with what we might call hateful worldview are coming from a place of what we yogis call "avidya," or ignorance. I am no social worker, but believe that believe who are closed, hateful, and fearful of "the other," or certain types or groups (in this case the KKK) come from an environment that not loving, supportive, and/or nurturing. Pain. I do have a background in animal shelters, and animal behavior, and know "redirected anger" happens there, where a dog or cat will lash out at whatever/whoever is in the proximity when frightened. My own cat has charged me when he was filled with the "fight or flight" nerves caused by another cat…I wonder if the human sympathetic nervous system takes over and sends some people into the fight or flight reactions when underneath they are feeling threatened?
Great point, so do we love them through it? Or respond in kind with more un-loving, non-supportive judgement? It's a vicious cycle, but one that must be addressed before action. The irony is that many religious principles (I myself am Christian, but understand Hinduism and Buddism feel the same) are based with loving the "un-loveable"…by changing hearts and minds with kindness and love. So often in this vitriolic society we live in, Liberals can get easily caught up in the mud-slinging of accusations of the Right being closed minded, but isn't that exactly the shoe on the other foot if the Left is denying or belittling what their opposition believes and values?? I think if both sides were mindful of tolerance, not just preaching it we'd be a lot better off in society to then turn and extend good actions to those we're hateful or fearful of. In the end of the day…perhaps the whole world would be better if everyone practiced yoga
, no better vehicle for self and others acceptance.
No better vehicle! Yes. I am thinking of one of my teachers, Richard Miller. Now, Richard is a remarkable man in the most literal sense. And a lovely non-dualist. I have heard him say when he walks the city streets at night, he will on purpose cross the street *to be near* "sketchy" looking people, the kind that most people (probably mysel included) would cross the street to get *away from.* He says, to allow himself to be *within* that kind of threatening feeling energy is a way to overcome any tendency to assume prejudice. Wow.