Kristin Gallegos | Disappear Here: Series Three

Time is a peculiar thing. Elusively un-circular, insistent on moving forward, tempting us with offerings of endless tomorrows while we cling to the irrevocable past. At least it can often feel that way, and Kristin Gallegos' latest installment in her photography book series, Disappear Here, instills this sense of time acting less linear and more like a spiral; days going around, seemingly repeating themselves yet never exactly the same. 

Disappear Here: Series Three follows Chavi St. Hill, starring as The Singer. Like the first two installments, we're invited into the world of a female artist, spun from a mix of imagination and history. Like a fly on the wall who's been gifted a time-travel ticket, we're catapulted to a place where we can bear witness to her routine, the practice of her craft, and all the stolen seconds in abeyance.

"This installment of the series differs visually from the other two in the fact that there is more of a vibrant color palette. I kept the first two books pretty muted in color. I think all three books have dark moments and can be quite grainy. This is also the only book shot in both LA and NY. I shot in more locations than ever before. I wanted this one to feel even more like movie stills. She is never really looking at the camera. But my aesthetic and style carry throughout the series." Gallegos tells me over coffee at home in Los Angeles.

Following on from Series One and Two, which saw model Cora Keegan as The Dancer and Emily Labowe in the role of The Writer, respectfully, this edition is also shot entirely on film and limited to 100 signed and numbered copies. The personas are inspired by fictional and real-life idols of Gallegos, offering a cinematic glance into an imagined day-in-the-life of a different female character, played by a personal muse of hers.

The Singer was influenced by iconic chanteuses like Tina Turner, Ronnie Spector, Diana Ross, and Cher, with a splash of funk icon Betty Davis' style. We tag along on her day-to-day grind, from 1970s Los Angeles to New York City, in and out of recording studios, onto the stage, through the preparation and recovery of performances, the relentless travel, and the forgotten need to remain human in-between. Her shield of glamour dazzles, but through the cracks, solitude seeps. Gallegos explains how she intentionally eluded to personal struggles going on beneath the surface:

"I think this is an underlying storyline that connects all four of the books: all of the women are strong, independent, yet flawed. A bit somber at times. There is a sense of isolation even though they may be surrounded by people. Each book feels very different to me in the sense that the characters are totally different women."

In an era that tended to swamp female artists with a whole lot of responsibility yet very little control, The Singer exudes power. She's a star, driven by her art, from city to city, venue to venue, and hotel to hotel; she lives to entertain. On the climb to success, exhaustion will linger, and life on the road is a life lacking home. Being a soloist or the star of the show, she bears the brunt of public opinion and adoration, as well as critique. 

"This character is strong and taking charge of her career," Gallegos explains. "I wanted to show that, in the studio, she isn't just recording music written for her. It had to be clear that she writes her own music, plays the piano, and produces herself as well. This was inspired by Aretha Franklin. She's doing her own thing in a time when you literally had to do it all for yourself; there were no stylists, and there were no hair and makeup glam squads. The artists were doing everything, and I find that really inspiring." 

Barbara Streisand's character in the 1976 version of A Star is Born also helped shape this character and the title “Disappear Here" is derived from the book Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis (this was also the name of Gallegos' 2017 debut solo photography show in New York City). Her tendency for nostalgia and love of pre-digital cinematography, especially in films of the 60s and 70s, is evident in her organic approach to her work. In each of the books, Gallegos is responsible for not only the photography and creative direction but also the hair and makeup, wardrobe styling, set, and prop design.

"I wanted to hone in on the in-between moments of their lives, which can feel monotonous at times, and for the viewer to get caught up in the details and get lost in their worlds."

In the quiet of contemplation and in the space that lurks around The Singer, Gallegos plants an opportunity for the viewer to wonder: Who else is there, beyond the edge of emptiness, and who might she be missing? A partner, children, her friends, family...a past? Waiting, or pining, seems second nature, and in the chaos of touring, the perpetual state of go, of next, of where to, she does not appear in a rush. She loiters in airport lounges, on the plane, in the studio, and on the streets; at ease with patience, accepting of time. Each scene teases the ironic idea of monotony in a routine that lacks…routine. A process that disobeys clocks. It could be any hour on every page. Seconds or weeks could have passed between each image. Be it dawn, dusk, midnight, or midday, one thing that remains constant is The Singer's impeccable style and the seduction of the settings she roams. Gallegos' skill for melding appreciation for art and aesthetics with escapism and a finespun storyline for you, the audience, to participate in results in the creation of an entire world you can disappear within. A journey devoid of traditional pace, sometimes lonely, sometimes electrifying, and ever unique.