Artist portrait: Robert Mapplethorpe
Robert Mapplethorpe is known for his black and white portrait and self-portrait photography. He took his first photo in the early 1970s with a Polaroid camera. From then on, he began taking photographs for a wide circle of friends and acquaintances, including artists, composers and celebrities. This marked the beginning of Mapplethorpe’s career in art photography.
In the 1980s, Robert Mapplethorpe focused on male and female nude models, delicate floral still lifes, and very formal portraits of artists and celebrities. One might wonder why he was drawn to flower photography for these three subjects and what sensual attraction it held for him.
Mapplethorpe's journey to photography
Although Mapplethorpe explored various media, it was photography that truly enchanted him. And flowers, with their intricacies, became his favorite subject. But why?
For Mapplethorpe, flowers were not just beautiful objects, but beings that exuded sensuality. Through his lens, a simple orchid could radiate the power of a passionate embrace.
Techniques and Innovations
His use of light and shadow combined with a meticulous attention to detail distinguishes his flower photography. They are not just pictures, but stories. The flowers in Mapplethorpe’s images tell of longing, intimacy, and the essence of life.
In one image, the elegant curve of a lily glows with purity. In the next image, the depth and texture can reflect intense longings. It is this duality that has fascinated and sometimes shocked many.
Controversies and associations
With art as bold as Mapplethorpe’s, controversy is inevitable. He was arguably one of the most controversial, but greatest photographers on the homoerotic scene. Although his photography includes a wide range of lauded plant still lifes depicting tulips, orchids, poppies, irises, and lilies-including his famous composition Calla Lily (1986, silver print, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York ) – he is best known for his controversial male nudes and other photographs in the New York “leather scene.” Some consider his work profound, others provocative, bordering on pornography or racism-particularly his artwork from the early 1980s, which features graphic depictions of homoerotic or S&M-based imagery and his fascination with black nude male bodies. These artworks were never created with the intention of creating a political or ideological framework; he simply photographed what he thought was beautiful and treated all of his subjects the same, regardless of what it was.
The perfect moment (1989 solo exhibition tour)
In 1989, Mapplethorpe drew national attention to the issues of public funding of the arts, censorship, and obscenity with his traveling exhibition “The Perfect Moment.” The exhibition included photographs from his X portfolio that featured images of urophagy, gay BDSM, and a self-portrait with a whip inserted into the anus. The exhibition was curated by Janet Kardon of the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA), which received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to support Mapplethorpe’s exhibition at the Corcoran Gallery of Art. However, the Corcoran Gallery of Art canceled the exhibition and terminated its contract with the ICA on the grounds that it did not want to get involved in the political issue, but was not spared and was drawn into the controversy.
There were other controversies involving Mapplethorpe’s art photography, but the 1989 solo exhibition tour put the crown on it.
Legacy and influence on modern photography
Even after his death in 1989, Mapplethorpe’s influence on photography remains palpable. While some modern photographers are inspired by his style, others criticize his raw sensuality. But the debate continues, making his work immortal.
Today, many photographers continue to be drawn to his blend of artistry and boldness, paying homage to his vision and ensuring that the magic Mapplethorpe saw in flowers never fades.
Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation
Mapplethorpe died in a Boston hospital in March 1989 as a result of HIV/AIDS.
Less than a year before his death, Mapplethorpe helped establish his foundation, the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation Inc. His vision was that this foundation would protect his work, advance his creative vision, and promote the causes he cared about. Since then, the Foundation has not only acted as his official estate and helped promote his work to the world, but has also raised and donated millions of dollars to medical research in the fight against AIDS and HIV infection.
So the next time you look at a flower, think of Mapplethorpe and ask yourself what stories that flower might tell. In the end, just like beauty, art is in the nuances, and no one knew that better than Robert Mapplethorpe.
Photo credits: © KunstLoft © Hena Das – Pexels © Ella Wei – Pexels © Dehbia Kouadria – Pexels