For the last six years NJ Photographer, Kirra Kimbrell has been photographing her experience of sisterhood in a project titled ‘The Otherness of Girls’. The project came about as a way for Kirra to connect with her sisters of various ages bridging a sixteen-year age gap. This particular set of photographs from the project explore moments of and with her youngest sister, Caroleena.
What intrigues me most about Kirra’s work is the “present” feeling of it. I appreciate the spontaneity and the feeling that her work is full of life, yet at the same time it’s extremely ordinary in that as the viewer, I find it relatable. The way Kirra photographs her family is lovingly through the lens of an artist.
Kirra sees herself most in her youngest sister. Though she can relate to experiences in Caroleena’s childhood, at the same time they feel unfamiliar. Though this selection of work navigates Caroleena’s experience, it is also a reflection of Kirra.
The work speaks about the rights of passage girls go through while growing up and the experience of sharing them with sisters. The stories being told through these images are timeless.