Photographs both entice and repulse

A few of Scott Carrier's images in "Carrier Vision: Moslems, Motorcycles and Mormons," on display at Ken Sanders Rare Books, will shock.

His "In the basement of Qala-I-Jhangi (Fortress of War), Mazar-I-Sharif, Afghanistan, December 3, 2001" — a decomposing corpse ravaged by mold and mud — entices and repulses at the same time; it's a grisly record of the demise of one violent regime and the birth of yet another.

Some Carrier images are achingly beautiful, such as "Hindu Kush, Pakistan." The contrast of lush, river-laden valley and barren mountains is truly gorgeous.

Like all good photographers, Carrier sees value in both the ugly and the beautiful, capturing it for viewers with childlike enthusiasm: he's the proud cat bringing the mauled, dead mouse to the doorstep, he's the excited, nosey neighbor shouting for you to run outside and see the magnificent sunset.

"Carrier Vision: Moslems, Motorcycles and Mormons" is curated into 12 suites of dozens of images from such countries as Afghanistan, Cambodia, Mexico, China, Kashmir, Pakistan, Turkey and assorted locations around the United States.

Of the three treated subjects in the exhibit — Moslems, motorcycles and Mormons — Carrier's photographs of the people of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Kashmir are the most compelling. His images of Mormons exiting the Conference Center or Temple Square are weaker, but only because they are a familiar topic juxtaposed against the unfamiliar horror and beauty of the people, land and events of southwest Asia.

While entertaining at first glance, Carrier's photographs of motorcycle riders ultimately compel viewers to compare the hedonistic lifestyle of the bikers with that of the austere Islamic fundamentalists: both groups illustrate well the decline of civilization in their own way.

One of the most pleasing pieces in the exhibition is "Smiling woman with donut for carrying loads on her head, Kashmir, September, 1998." This image of youthful exuberance will captivate viewers, proving the universal power of a young woman's smile.

All the photographs in the exhibit testify of Carrier's skill with his camera, but it's the honesty of depiction that impresses — there seems to be no staging here, and Carrier gets images that make one wonder, "How did he get this without being killed or maimed?"

"Carrier Vision: Moslems, Motorcycles and Mormons" is a worthy exhibit, even though Sander's bookstore exhibit space is limited and therefore crowded. Then again, the forced intimacy of such evocative work will definitely impact viewers.

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If you go . . .

What: "Carrier Vision: Moslems, Motorcycles and Mormons"

Where: Ken Sanders Rare Books, 268 S. 200 East

When: Oct. 17-31

Reception: Friday, 7 p.m.

How much: Free

Phone: 521-3819

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E-MAIL: gag@desnews.com