Nikolay Bakharev, “The People of Town N”

Born in 1946 in the Altai region of Central Asia (then as now, part of Russia), Bakharev was a factory worker until he taught himself photography. In recent years he’s gained international renown for his work, which combines elements of portraiture and documentary. His subjects are ordinary Russians—often naked female models in sexual poses—though a sense of sublimated eroticism permeates his other images, such as the ones in this show, featuring images of people from his hometown, pictured in bathing suits while out for a swim. Posed in pairs or groups (including whole families) they project intimacy and vulnerability in equal measure.