Date: Unknown
Title: Anti-Christ
Composition wise, the photo is rather simple. It's edited to look older than it actually is. The subject matter, however, is what makes the photo interesting and highly controversial. On the left is a somewhat deformed fetus and on the right is a majorly deformed fetus next to a Picasso painting. Witkin's photos, as a whole, are probably the most controversial and exploitive I've seen, even more so than those taken by Richard Prince and Gary Gross.
I wish I could figure out the point or meaning to this photo, but I'm oddly intrigued by it nonetheless. I suppose it's the macabre-ness of. Like a car crash, it's hard to look away.
I feel like Roger Ballen was almost inspired by his style. He directed this music video for the South African group, Die Antwood:
I thought this photo was awesome! im glad someone did it! and that Die Antword video is one of my favorite videos to watch, i send that song to everyone that i love in my life. This artist for sure remindes me alot of that band.
ReplyDeleteI like this photo as well. Perhaps the idea is to take the abstraction of the Picasso image and represent it into a physical bodily form. In many ways he seems to be concerned with the separation of body and spirit (or mind). How does the dynamic work? is there a connection at all? Very post-modern in the sense of denying the internal.
ReplyDeleteIy may also be a take on Lacan's mirror image. For those who who may not have heard of Lacan. Here he is in a minute: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwlirZQLAAg
great job, thanks for posting this video. If you haven't checked out Ballen's photographs, i suggest doing so. It is interesting to see how they translate in the video - they seem much more funky, and less sad.
ReplyDeleteThe Witkin photo (quickly) makes me ask about our interest in using deformity in art - to suggest motion, movement, the grotesque, etc. - and then an interest in showing it (as you say) like a car crash, the real thing.
thanks!