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Edward L. Rubin
Am I Black or White? (MY MANNEQUIN MOMENT #6)

2025

About the Item

I have always been a storyteller, and the world around us is full of stories waiting to be told. My journey began with painting, then transitioned into set and environment design for film and television, and now, I express these narratives through photography. Why photography? Because a single photograph can capture a world. It can tell us everything we need to know about someone, a particular moment, time, and place. It can be an escape, a safe haven, or a stark reminder. Photography, for me, has always held this transformative power. Using the visual language of feature films, I selectively reveal universal truths filtered through my personal, emotional lens. The shot is immediate, timely, and serves as a perfect fusion of idea and creator within a single frame. The Mannequin Moment series is a collection of narrative portraits that depict that transcendent moment when we realize, without a doubt, that we do not belong where we are, nor are we doing what we should be doing. It’s the moment when we recognize that what we are involved with, or what we thought we wanted, does not align with our authentic selves. How many of us have had such moments? Everyone. We all have played roles, accepted ideas, or found ourselves in situations and relationships that did not truly reflect what we wanted or who we are. We are born into belief systems that carve grooves into our minds about success, normalcy, power, sex, race, class, masculinity, femininity, and beauty. At what point do we stop listening to these external voices and start listening to the one true voice within—our sacred self? That is the Mannequin Moment. Why mannequins? They are abstract representations of human beings, embodying unattainable perfection. They are false ideals personified—literally. In my work, I use these artificial figures as surrogates for my subjects in their defining moment—the moment they no longer fit in, when the veil is lifted. My hope in creating these portraits is that viewers recognize themselves within them. I want them to see and feel their own struggles and know they are not alone. Through this recognition, I hope they are empowered to step into their greater, more authentic selves and experience their own beautiful unfolding.
  • Creator:
    Edward L. Rubin (1954, American)
  • Creation Year:
    2025
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 26 in (66.04 cm)Width: 39 in (99.06 cm)
  • More Editions & Sizes:
    1 of 10Price: $2,200
  • Medium:
  • Period:
  • Framing:
    Frame Included
    Framing Options Available
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Agoura Hills, CA
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU2837215853932

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