Daydream in Memories of Youth

Stephanie Duprie Routh's latest photography project, Daydream in Memories of Youth, is a visual diary, using herself and others to represent the sensuality she remembers and still feels. Longing and wanting are companions that do not diminish with age. The layered images in the monograph bridge the duality of past and present for a psychological view of beauty, evoking nostalgia and desire. Because women and sensuality are multi-faceted, so is this body of work. Routh collaborated with two other women to bring deeper dimensions and culturally different backgrounds to the project, ultimately publishing a monograph that combined photographs, writing, and scent. Dalya Sachs, a writer based in the Bay Area of California, uses grammar as a construct to create poetry alongside the images. Her titles create double entendres with the imagery while her words conjure meaning related equally to the imagery and universal experience. Each poem is written in the grammatical style of its title. Lula Curioca, an olfactory artist based in Mexico City, created a signature scent included in the book to elaborate on the intersection of sensuality and women. Scent is a powerful reminder and interrupter that is both invisible and known, much like women can be. Smell (and women) can subtly trigger shifts in an environment or stir nostalgia. This trait is easily demonstrated under the guise of sensuality. Daydream in Memories of Youth allows Routh and the viewer permission to be vulnerable in remembering the past while simultaneously having a conversation about sensuality in the present. There are four distinct books with distinct cover colors. Each book represents an exhibit location: ATX, CA, CDMX, and NYC. Books ATX and CA have a green Pantone wash in the interior whereas CDMX and NYC have a maroon Pantone wash. Each book contains the exact same imagery, writings, and statements. Each book contains a scented insert for the viewer to open (or not). Link to purchase book: https://stephanieduprierouth.com/prints-flatiron/daydream-in-memories-of-youth