Stephanie Syjuco stages photographs for her "CITIZENS" series in this preview of the upcoming "San Francisco Bay Area" episode from Season 9 of the "Art in the Twenty-First Century" television series.

Drawing from the current political climate as well as from protest imagery, Syjuco dresses her portrait sitters in masks and black attire, creating composite characters that are part fiction and part reality. "Black-clad individuals are usually associated with a very direct action," says the artist. "Is it a character that one finds problematic or is it something that might elicit even some empathy?"

Stephanie Syjuco was born in Manila, Philippines, in 1974. Syjuco works in photography, sculpture, and installation, moving from handmade and craft-inspired mediums to digital editing. Her work explores the tension between the authentic and the counterfeit, challenging deep-seated assumptions about history, race, and labor.

Learn more about the artist at:
https://art21.org/artist/stephanie-syjuco/

"San Francisco Bay Area" from Season 9 of "Art in the Twenty-First Century" premieres September 28 at 9:00 p.m. on PBS.

Learn more about the new season at:
https://art21.org/season9