Religious Icons from the American Way of Life by David LaChapelle

The Sacred World of David LaChapelle

An icon can be a religious image that is venerated, but it is also an object that becomes a symbol of a particular identity. Both meanings can be applied to the work of American photographer David LaChapelle. in his solo exhibition make believe –Fotografiska is located in New York– We can find some of his first works of sacred inspiration. LaChapelle began exploring these iconic motifs when HIV entered the American gay scene, causing chaos and the death of some of those close to him.

Since then, it has become one of his hallmarks and the central focus of his work. In this series of works carried out in the eighties, His friends in the AIDS crisis pose before his lens as protective angels or martyrs of the disease. Although, recently, celebrities like Kim Kardashian have done it naked in the position of the grieving virgin, or Kanye West has become the Messiah, already crowned with thorns.

Celebrity American Way of Life

Specifically, the notion of celebrity and its make-up in our society is one of its great pillars. Thus, we can observe through his lens what was the last photograph taken of Andy Warhol; Or also an exotic version of Marilyn, this time embodied by his own muse, Amanda Lepore, and featuring extravagant and excessive makeup that achieves an unsightly result.. In the latter case, editing skill comes into play in drawing and altering the negatives.

Through his portfolio we can find these nods to well-known artists – mostly from North America – such as Edward Hopper or Georgia O’Keefe. this way, He manages to capture American identity with freshness and personality, including social criticism or reflection A satire on capitalism, the objectification of the human being or vulgarity itself.

In others, he probes the world of celebrities, portraying them with an aura of intimacy and vulnerability, through dreamlike scenarios and everyday scenarios., which goes against preconceived notions about fame. Along these lines we find, for example, a shot of the rapper Tupac bathing in an almost shy manner, with his back turned, as if he were a man unaccustomed to Blinks, an unknown person caught in the middle of a chore. Also of note is the iconic photo of Britney Spears in her childhood bedroom, which is hopelessly reminiscent of Lolita’s sexual personification while holding a toy from the series. Teletubbies. Similarly, other major themes of the exhibition are the interrelationship between the natural, the artificial, and social constructs around beauty and sexual identity.

Study at Fotografiska New York

make believe It is the largest exhibition to date of David LaChapelle’s work. In addition, it is also the first solo study organized by the exhibition, coming to occupy the six floors of the Fotografiska Nueva York building. It can be visited until January 9, and consists of a total of 150 photographs in which religious icons, pop art, saturated colors, criticism of consumerism and some controversial images that, without a doubt, can hardly be captured today.

At this link you can read more about Other photography exhibitions.