What weirdness is hiding in your luggage? (iStockphoto.com/tacojim)

One of the most annoying aspects of international travel is going through customs, particularly if you have an exotic taste in souvenirs. I, for one, have a thing for food; on any return trip, my bags are likely stuffed with snacks native to whatever country I’ve just visited. Then, I usually sweat bullets as I fill out the customs declaration form, wondering if olives and wine or tea biscuits will get me in trouble. But a glimpse of Taryn Simon’s new photos series called “Contraband” has put my mind at ease.

Sort of.

After all, what Simon’s photos reveal may be somewhat disturbing: People are bringing some weird stuff into this country. Or they’re trying to, anyway. For five consecutive days in New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, Simon photographed more than 1,000 items that were denied entry into the United States — everything from a bird corpse to pigeon medicine to cow-dung toothpaste. Items labeled “Unknown meat in a bottle” and “Unidentified liquid” made the cut, too. Long story short: My tea biscuits are probably safe. But of course, Simon’s goals with “Contraband” went beyond helping travelers figure out what to bring home and what not to.

In an interview with CNN, Simon said that documenting what’s off-limits is “a way to understand American identity through what we are allowed to consume and what we are not.” Basically, this hodgepodge of unusual items represents some of our deepest desires, and though they were banned from entering the country, through Simon’s photos, they now have a free pass into our consciousness. “Contraband” premiered at New York’s Gagosian Gallery this week and will remain there through Nov. 6.

The photo exhibit should come out in book form soon, too. Until then, you can check out some of the images in this New York Times Magazine spread and compare them to your own souvenirs of journeys past. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever brought back from a trip? If Simon’s theory holds up, it may tell the world a whole lot about you.

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