Shannon Taggart

For over two decades, Taggart has been documenting the legacy and lived experience of Spiritualist practices across the United States and Europe. Spiritualism began to coalesce as a formal religion in New England during the mid-nineteenth century, when sisters Kate and Margaret Fox claimed to be able to communicate with the spirits of deceased individuals. Within a few decades, it grew into a significant movement, global in reach – as seen with Espiritismo in Brazil – and of interest to many important figures of the time, such as writer Edgar Allan Poe and scientists Pierre and Marie Curie. Mediums and séances became increasingly popular, simultaneously drawing supporters and detractors. Significantly, Spiritualism offered community and solace for those grieving the loss of their loved ones.  

The story of Spiritualism has mostly been told with a mix of fascination, fear, and even ridicule. Yet Taggart approached the subject with boundless curiosity and an eye for the uncanny, seeking to unravel this spectacular history without dispelling its mystery. Her photographs show ongoing practices including mediumistic séances, they document the paraphernalia of psychic research, and the use of telecommunications technologies to send and receive messages to and from the afterlife. Throughout this project, which continues to deepen, Taggart has engaged with her subjects in a collaborative manner. The people portrayed in her images are co-creators in the true sense of the word, searching within for clues and evidence of the afterlife. Whether a believer or a sceptic, these photographs pull us into other worlds, expanding possibilities and connections.