Archives of Abuse
My past work has led me to look at the wars that we wage against one another -- whether in the streets of Central American or the homes of San Francisco -- I feel the necessity to be as close as an outsider can be. I chose to work with the San Francisco Police Department, to be present at the moment of their intervention, to observe the process of documentation and mediation, while respecting and protecting the identity of the victims. The records gathered revealed a history of scars that were beyond what I ever might have imagined or pictured.
-SM, 1992 (in a letter to Lynne Sowder, Producer of Women's Work, a project supported by Liz Claiborne Inc.)
See more at Susan Meiselas - Archives of Abuse