SUMMER TASKS
A Journey:
SMALL WORLD
Exhibition Task
Exhibition title: IMAGES THAT SHOCKED THE WORLD
Brainstorm
Possible venues:
Auto Italia
Founded and run by three working artists Auto Italia is a fairly new and underground photography and art gallery. It moves around but is currently located in an old car salesroom on old kent road. The space is modern and cold and I think this would be a perfect venue for my exhibition with the minimalist set up working well with the images i intend to display.
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The old police station
This abandoned police station which is now used as an innovative art space in which young up and coming artists and photographers have the freedom to display their work as creatively as they like. still intact with all the original fixtures this space has a chilling atmosphere which would be perfect for my
exhibition. |
photographers:
Nick Ut
Nick Ut, real name Huỳnh Công Út is a vietnamese photojournalist who began taking photographs for the associated press at age 16 after his older brother was killed in vietnam. His most famous photograph which won the Pulitzer Prize was taken during the vietnam war of a young girl running and screaming form the burns she received in the napalm attack.
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This photograph which was notably his most famous and was in fact one of the defining images of the 20th century was taken on june 8, 1972 and is of 9 year old phan thi kim phuc running away from the napalm attacks with severe burns all over her body. After the photograph was taken Nick ut took the little girl to hospital where it was originally determined she would die originally the press association refused to publish the photo due to a strict rule against frontal nudity but it was decided that the photograph was important in showing the disaster and severity of the situation in vietnam.
This photograph was taken minutes before 'the naplam girl' iconic photograph was taken. It shows kim phuc's grandmother carrying her dying grandson as his skin falls off due to severe burns. The photograph is equally shocking and sad as any of the photographs taken that day but the calm look on the grandmothers face makes it more disturbing.
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Paul Hansen
The Curator project - Part 2
Fashionable controversy
Fashion, as it is actualised and spoken through the medium of photography, represents some of the most beautiful and hideous elements of culture and society. Throughout history the fashion industry has caused controversy, whether it be in the glamorisation of drugs or the use of far too skinny models it always has people talking. Not only is fashion photography used for photographing clothing and starting trends but it is also heavily influenced by cultural and political problems and because of this many documentary photographers have crossed over into the world of fashion having their photographs published in more modern fashion magazines such as I-D and Vibe. What all the photographs I intend to display in my exhibition have in common is there abilty to capture moments that depsite being frozen give the viewer a clear idea of the photographers intentions. In my exhibition I plan to display photographers who have been influenced by social and political issues and used Their photography to document this to the world and even comment on these issues through their photography. Through my exhibion i intend to show that fashion photography is a lot more than pretty faces and nice clothing.
Chosen artists:
Room 1 - conflicting fashion
Steven MeiselSteven Meisel is an American fashion photographer who rose to fame shooting for magazine such as Vogue Italia and W magazine.
born in 1955 Meisel's love for fashion and model began at a young age. Meisel has be a protege of both Franca Sozzani (editor in chief of italian vouge) and Anna Wintour (American Vouge) in which he photographed every cover of every issue something unheard of in the fashion industry. He is also well known for his controversial, thought provoking photography in which he has addressed the subjects of plastic surgery and most notably war, which is why I am including him in my exhibition. His collection of Photographs 'make love not war' depicts sweaty, dirty soldiers in the middle of a war-zone interacting with models in a very 'heated fashion' critics say that stevens images glamorize the war in iraq. PhotographsThis photograph was the front cover of Vogue Italia and was one of Meisel's in a collection named plastic surgery, this photograph depicts A woman checking out of just having major reconstructive surgery, despite this she seems completely normal dressed to perfection with sunglasses on i think the intention of meisel was to display the world changing views on plastic surgery but not in a good way, he is commenting on how easy it is for the modern woman to have plastic surgery an how it is no longer considered a bit deal. with the title 'makeover madness'
This photograph is also from Meisel's collection for Italian vogue, this photo depicts a woman undergoing plastic surgery, the setting in very realistic of a surgery with the doctor and nurse in typical scrubs worn during surgery in contrast the model, whose face cannot be seen is wearing a very glamours gown, with high heeled shoes and appears to be on her phone whilst having this surgery performed, the use of this dress makes a serious procedure appear very causal. I think this is another comment on society and how we don't look at cosmetic surgery as a big deal. The use of colors in this photo are also very interesting as the surgery room and doctors are in various shades of blue whilst the model is in a nude colour which stands out against the blue.
This photograph is taken from a set by Miesel for Italian vouge named 'make love not war'. The series of images depicts sweaty, dirty soldiers in the middle of a war-zone interacting with models in a "heated fashion". The photographs were met with mixed reception some praised steven for the artistic creation and the attention to detail that went into creating these images. despite this they were also met with criticism and Meisel was accused of glamourising the war in Iraq. In this photograph there are 4 soliders holding up a model who is sprawled out over them. the people are taking up most of the photograph and we can see the white sky, which acts as the only negative space in the photograph. the expression on the soldiers face is of excitement and joy, which is not what we would expect from soldiers.
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Olivierio ToscaniOliviero Toscani is an Italian photographer, born in 1942, in Milan. Toscani studied photography in Zurich in the early 1960s. His work soon appeared in prestigious international magazines such as Elle and Vogue.
Responsible for Benetton’s infamous campaigns throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Toscani’s fusion of social commentary and commerce prompted the world to re-consider the power and purpose of advertising. Never far from controversy, the acclaimed photographer shot to notoriety with his use of shock images for a series of campaigns that featured subjects ranging from dying AIDS patients to death row inmates. Often contentious, Toscani’s pioneering work has faced government bans and sparked public protests. All of his creative attempt to give his campaigns meaning are the reason why Toscani has been included in this exhibition. Timeline
This is from a set of photographs taken in death row, that were used as part of an advertisement campaign for united colors of Benetton by telling the prisons that they were doing a photo essay Toscanini and his team were granted access to inmates of death row whom where waiting execution. There was a lot of controversy that surrounded this set of photographs as firstly the prisons didn't know that they would be used as an ad campaign and that the inmates used would be paid for 'modelling' secondly a lot of organisation thought it was wrong to used convicted criminals, some who were sentenced for horrific crimes to sell clothing. This photograph is very simple, a head shot of a convicted criminal who is glaring at the camera, although not intimidating there is a sense of danger about this man. Toscanni argues that this campaign was not used to glorify the criminals but to criticise the death penalty which he states is 'inhuman'
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Room 2- social
Nan GoldinNan Goldin is an American photographer who was born in 1953 and brought up in a liberal and progressive household, in 1965 her elder sister committed suicide which changed the whole dynamic of her family, when Goldin was 15 she was first given a photographer and she spent most of the 1970s photographing the cites gays and transexuals, she then moved to new york and began photographing the post-punk music scene. Her images have a snap-shot feel like a private journal made public. Due to many of Goldin's friends being HIV positive this became a focal point of her photographs, bringing light to an illness which at that point was not understood and widely feared one of her most notable sets of photographs were of her friend kevin, whom she photographed when was healthy and during his rapid degeneration, with the final images depicting a very thin and sick man dying in a hospital bed.
"that I realized photographing couldn’t keep people alive. Even though I never consciously set out to create pictures that would help humanize AIDS, I realized they could affect others." - Nan Goldin This is a large colour photograph of a couple on a bed in a New York apartment. The image is partly blurred as though the camera was moved at the moment of shutter release. The couple look away from each other. the man on the right of the image, looks out of the frame towards the floor. the woman whose extremely thin body extends through the center of the frame to the left side, gazes blankly in the direction of the camera. There are dark shadows beneath her eyes she looks lost in contemplation of something unknown to the viewer. Two plastic masks, of the hang above the bed, one over each member of the couple. These heighten the sense of separation between the two people.
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Dennis MorrisDennis Morris is a british photographer who started his career at age 11 when one of his photographs was published on the front page of the daily mirror. His career really started when he was waiting for Bob Marley outside his recording studio to take photographs, Marley was so impressed with his commitment he invited him to take pictures of him for the rest of his tour, this was a focal point in his career at age 17.It was his pictures of Bob Marley that caught the attention of Jonny Rotten front man of the Sex pistols who invited Morris to take the first official shot of the sex pistols upon signing to virgin records. The only photographer to put the Sex Pistols fully at ease in front of the lens, Dennis's work with the band established, not only their public image, but also Dennis's position as one of the most exciting and striking music photographers in the country. he also took a set of photographs called 'growing up black' in which he followed the immigrant caribbean community of which he was a part as it was finding its feet and establishing its identity
This photograph is of Sid Vicious, the basest of the sex pistols a punk band from england who rose to fame in the 1980s. Sid Vicious was the poster child of punk rock still to this day. this is a close up portrait of him with the focus being drawn to his face. He has one eye shut and his notorious chain and padlock round his neck. his t shirt is ripped mirroring his attitude of rebellion and fighting the system. The photograph is black and white with high contrast which highlights Sid's pale skin and jet black hair. I chose to include this photo in my exhibition as it is iconic and I feel that dennis morris managed to capture the feel of a whole generation in one photograph.
This photograph is of Sid vicious and his girlfriend Nancy, they are sta on a bench having a conversation which is the center focus of the photograph, their is an electric guitar in the backround which suggests to the viewer this photo was taken before or after a concert. Sid is sat with a beer in his hand. And nancy a cigerette which paired with her ripped tights and heavy eye make up indictae to t
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Larry ClarkLarry Clark is an American photographer who was born in 1943 in Tulsia. He learned photography from a young age. when he was 15 Clark and his friends began injecting amphetamines which he stated was due to their boredom, he always carried his camera around and documented the drug use, underage sex and violence that he was surrounded by. being drafted into the Vietnam war led him to publish 'Tulsa' a photo documentary illustrating his young friends drug use in black and white. He then followed this with 'Teenage Lust' an autobiography through his teen years. I wanted to include Larry Clark in my exhibition as I feel the way he documents social issues is truthful and straight to the point, he doesn't glamorise his friends drug and we can see the boredom and hopelessness that reads through his photographs.
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'I want my photos to be fresh and urgent. A good photograph should be a call to arms.'
Terry Richardson is an American fashion photographer who is son of bob Richardson, a fashion photographer who struggled with schizophrenia and drug abuse, many think this is what shaped Richardson into the highly sexualised photographer he is today. He is known today for his raw minimalistic style and for taking well know celebrities and putting them in mundane situations typically shooting them on a plain white wall which has become his trademark. In his photographs Richardson explores the ideas of sexuality which is why i have decided to include him in my exhibition. |
La Chapelle'My pictures are about getting as far away from reality as possible. Dreams should be part of our everyday life.’..
Born in 1963 La Chapelle is an american commercial and fine art photographer. when he was 17 he was offered a job by Andy Warhol, his photographs quickly gained positive attention and he was soon shooting top celebrities. LaChapelle’s photography is peculiar to most and extremely personal. It consists of lots of make-up, lighting and props and uses them to make bold statements of gender, class and sexuality. He takes celebrities, men, women, and transsexuals and recreates them in an image of extreme stereotypes His photography often references fine art and he sometimes conveys social messages in his work. |