I got my first camera when I was 21 - my boyfriend gave it to me for my birthday - but at that point politics was my life, and I viewed the camera as a tool for expressing my political beliefs rather than as an art medium.

Carrie Mae Weems’ quote reflects her early relationship with photography and how it evolved over time. She mentions that her first camera, which she received as a birthday gift from her boyfriend when she was 21, was initially seen as a tool for expressing her political beliefs rather than as a medium for artistic expression. This perspective shows how Weems, at the time, was deeply involved in politics, and viewed the camera primarily as a means to capture and communicate her views on social and political issues.

The quote also reveals how Weems’ understanding of art and photography transformed as she matured. While her initial focus was on using the camera to support and promote her political views, she later came to see it as a way to create art, blending her political ideas with her creative expression. This shift marks a pivotal moment in her career, as she began to explore the potential of photography to tell personal, cultural, and social stories, eventually becoming a leading figure in contemporary art.

Weems’ work often tackles themes of race, identity, and history, and her early approach to photography through a political lens laid the foundation for the powerful, socially-conscious art she would later create. The quote illustrates how her personal experiences and political engagement initially influenced her creative process before she expanded her vision to include more artistic and emotional dimensions in her work.

Ultimately, the quote highlights the intersection of politics and art in Weems’ career. It shows how photography was initially a means for her to express her beliefs, but over time it became a vehicle for more complex and nuanced explorations of identity, culture, and society.