SIN IS THE PROBLEM, SIN IS THE BLAME
Robert Gumpert
Over the course of 13-and-a-half years, Robert Gumpert visited the jails of San Francisco County to make portraits of, and record interviews with, prisoners. While preparing for the portrait sessions, Gumpert made test-shots of the room to check his light settings. These test-shots are a peculiar archive of the dogma, lessons and affirmations delivered to county jail residents. On a chalkboard, whiteboard on rollers and bare plaster, many of the instructions originate in bible study and other instructions from general therapy groups (anger-management and AA are common in jails). Durational, slow and a little absurd, Sin is the Problem, Sin is the Blame is a plain gawp at the residue of messaging and programming in one county jail.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Robert Gumpert
Robert Gumpert has been a documentary photographer since 1974 working on long term projects. He worked for about 12 years as a photojournalist primarily for the British press. He lives in San Francisco with his partner.
