Taryn Simon: Contraband

Taryn Simon (*1975) is an American artist whose works combine photography, text, and graphic design. Her practice involves extensive research, in projects guided by an interest in systems of categorization and classification. In Contraband, 1,075 photographs were taken at both the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Federal Inspection Site and the U.S. Postal Service International Mail Facility at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York. From November 16, 2009, through November 20th, 2009, Taryn Simon remained on site and continuously photographed items detained or seized from passengers and express mail entering the United States from abroad. The list of items include: pork, syringes, Botox, GBL date rape drug, heroin, imitation Lipitor, Ketamine tranquillizers, Lidocaine, Lorazepam, locust tree seed, ginger root, deer tongues, cow urine, Cohiba cigars, Egyptian cigarettes.