Identity Cards by Mari Eckstein Gower

In creating Identity Cards, I was inspired by the intricate Colonial South American portraits that traced racial lineage. The ruling classes were so obsessed with "blood purity" during that period, that they devised a complicated legal system which put a name to every possible racial mix. I began exploring the theme of how just about every legal form I can think of has a box to put one in a racial category. I expand that theme in the Identity Card book to include forms for Blood Quantum, Blood Type, the Hindu Caste system, Horoscopes and even the hierarchy of angels. For the Skin Tones book, I examine the names we use to describe shades of skin. Major cosmetic companies have created names for different shades of foundation make up. Some stay neutral, using a numbering system. But the same tone may be called, Alabaster, Cool Bone, Ivory, Angel, Bisque, or Cream Vanilla. The names for the different skin tones make an interesting study in how our society views colour.