Art

Photographer Joshua Helms seeks to dispel the taboos and cultural significance surrounding the male sexual organ through his colorful and playful exploration of the subject.  By playing with light, textures and a variety of colorful decorative elements (including sequins, paint and various food products), the work creates a dichotomy between the connotations of the underlying subject matter and the visual statement of each photograph.  In some ways the photos remind me of the gritty portrayal of sexuality that is popular with Marilyn Minter’s work.  More NSFW photos after the jump.   More… »

Former rock critic for Rolling Stone magazine and current photo editor for The New Yorker, Vince Aletti, has been working for the past few years to put together a hard copy collection of photographs from his collection entitled Male. The release is timed nicely to land ten years after his highly praised survey exhibition by the same name that ran at the Wessel + O’Connor Gallery here in NYC. This Wednesday, Dec. 3rd, there is a book signing at Dashwood Books from 6-8pm.

Master of the well-disguised self-portrait, Cindy Sherman’s foray into the world of digital photography recently went on display at Metro Pictures gallery in Chelsea. Beginning in the late 70s, Sherman started exploring social role-playing and sexual stereotypes through elaborate caricatures that have continued to be her most defining artistic theme. During the 80s she explored mutilation and grotesque creations with prosthetics before returning to address sexual roles in the 90s. Up until her recent show she was among the camp of photographers clinging to the fading world of film, but this recent show was based on her new body of work as a convert to the digital universe. The manipulations of the photos are intentionally flawed in small ways that only adds strength to the parodies that she creates with each caricature.

This week in our In the Spotlight series we take a look at Brooklyn photographer Meg Wachter’s portfolio, which is full of entertaining and beautiful images that prominently feature her borough.  Join me for a conversation with the artist.  

Hi Meg, how are things going out in Brooklyn?
Things are surprisingly well. For once, I feel secure as a freelancer despite our economic troubles.

A friend pointed me in the direction of your work a while back and I was thoroughly entertained by looking through the “Dumped” series.  How did that come about?  Did you recruit friends or strangers?
“Dumped” came about from the depths of my random brain. I recruited my awesome friends and roommates to participate in the project with promise of food and booze. It was a fun (and extremely messy) shoot, but everyone is super excited with the outcome.

   

What sort of training did you have as a means to get into photography?
I’ve been messing around with photography since I was a teen, but had formal training at Ohio University’s School of Visual Communications. There I received a Bachelor of Science in Commercial Photography. From there I headed to New York, more or less. I’ve always been a self-starter and cannot say enough about the importance of self-promotion and networking. And, it helps a little, to have some talent.

What inspires you when you get behind the camera?
The act of creating or capturing something–whether it be planned or serendipitous–and to share how I view the world, or create it otherwise is what inspires me. 

I think my favorite series from your portfolio is “Beautiful Decay”.  How do you find locations for shots like that?
I had access to an abandoned Catholic school deep in Brooklyn and went there on 2 separate occasions with 9 months in between each visit–I found out about it through a friend. The state of decay was appalling and mesmerizing. 

Does your photography have a special relationship with Brooklyn aside from the fact that you live there?
You know I never really considered that until you mention it, but yes. Moving to Brooklyn definitely jump-started my motivation to shoot after a dry spell of inspiration. 80% of my current projects have been shot or conceived here.  It is an amazing culturally diverse and proactive artistic community.

What’s on the horizon for Ms. Wachter? 
I just completed and am finalizing a book of my series, Dumped! Stay tuned…

For those of you lucky enough to be passing through the City of Lights (aka Paris) this weekend, you might want to take time to check out the 12th annual Paris Photo exhibition at the Carrousel du Louvre.  It will be featuring a wide range of international photographers, some of whom you’ve already seen on Homo Neurotic including Lise Sarfati (last photo).  

Marilyn Minter’s brand of hyper-realistic paintings have quickly risen from marginalized curiosity to full-fledged fame.  While she shies away from the label of “photo-realism”, her work does indeed begin with photographed moments.  What starts as a compilation of multiple scanned negatives turns into the inspiration for the canvas where Minter memorializes grit, sweat, and make-up mashed together with extreme angles and close-ups of body parts.  In her most recent exhibition, The Pam Show, Minter takes on sex icon Pamela Anderson and creates electric images that diffuse her media-popularized brand of sex appeal and explores the artists own interpretation of sensual desire.  

With winter weather on it’s way and the fading of falls colors soon to give way to the washed-out pallor of winter, it seems appropriate to feature the work of German photographer Henk Wittinghofer. His photos bear traces of influence from well-known photographers Jeurgen Teller and Homo Neurotic favorite Ryan McGinley but have their own distinct voice, especially notable in his bleak, wintry landscapes.  

Samantha Cohn captures some beautiful, pensive moments that inevitably draw the viewer into the story of the photograph.  It probably doesn’t hurt that many of her subjects happen to be rather handsome men in their own right.  There is an air of loneliness, or perhaps nostalgia, that plays well with the desaturated blues and greens in each photo.   

For our latest installment of In the Spotlight, we sit down with 24-year-old Norwegian photographer Markus Bollingmo to learn a little of what makes him tick as he makes his first steps along the route to becoming an established photographer.  For past interviews with other young and exciting photographers, sift through the previous posts or click the links at the end of the post.  

S: Hi Markus, thanks for giving us the chance to get to know you a little better.  I see you just got back from a trip to Japan.  What were you there for and how did it go?

MB: Hello! Yes I just got back from there a couple of nights ago. I went there with some French friends here from Paris. Not really any other reason than we have all been there before and know what a special place it is. It’s so crazy over there! All you can think of is “Shit, why can’t people be more like this in Europe?”. It is so beautiful everywhere, and the people are so sweet. Western people often think Japanese are cold and hiding their emotions - which is true in a few ways, but I find more warmth and sweetness there than anywhere I have been in Europe and America. They have aesthetic sense in a completely different way than here, and they have such a relaxed relationship to new concepts and ideas. Everything is just inspiration overdose!

S: Do you get to travel often?

MB: I suppose the only regular traveling I do is when I go home to Norway to see my family and friends there, which is usually a few times a year. I am going there again for Christmas next - Norwegian Christmas is very nice! Other than that, I don’t know? Maybe I have been traveling more than most, but there are many who travel more than me. Thing is, my life is so loose and random and I never really know what will happen until they are happening. I am so very bad at planning ahead that I barely even try anymore. It has worked well for me so far in life though, I like that feeling of freedom.

SB: You’re originally from Norway, but you live in Paris now.  What makes Paris a great place for a photographer to live?

MB: Norway is very small…very few inhabitants. Before I came to Paris I lived a couple of years in Stockholm, Sweden, which is very nice, but compared to a big city like Paris it is just a little shit. When you have a big city like Paris with millions of people it is just bound to have a lot more opportunities for photographers and artists. Also, it is one of the biggest artistic centers in Europe and the world. Personally I just like the slow pace here a lot, it fits me very well. I live my life so randomly without much stress or ambition. When I was still living in Stockholm I considered going to NYC, but I am not sure that place would have been as nice to me. Paris is perfect!

S: Who and what inspire your photography?

MB: People always ask what photographers I am into and I always think “Shit, I don’t know”. I barely know of any! I never took any class or education in photography. Actually, other photographers’ works don’t inspire me much at all. I can enjoy it of course, some photographers really make me dream, but it is not what makes me want to take photos myself. Inspiration is more something that comes from real life. Like experiencing Japan, as I said before. Experiencing situations and atmospheres that have an impact on you, you know? Watching a sexy naked boy on my bed is a lot more inspiring to me than going to see an exhibition.

S: How do you meet the guys that you photograph?

MB: Most are friends and lovers that I know from elsewhere in my life. And as my photos are online I get contacted sometimes by guys who would like to work together. I never really go “model hunting” though, as you need a certain level of comfort and ease, especially when doing naked stuff.

S: You also do a fair bit of self-portraiture.  Is that something that you do to fill time or do you have plans for a formal series of self-portraits?

MB: Heh! As I said before, I am very bad with planning anything at all. What happens will happen! As for my self-portraits, it is a little bit of exhibitionism and a lot of the fact to be able to work in peace. It is very relieving not to have to communicate your ideas to another person. When you work with yourself you know exactly what you mean. And if the photos turn out to be shit, no one will ever know.

S: Has your work been published anywhere that readers in the US might be able to see?

MB: Well, no. I suppose you can say I am still new to a lot of this…

S: What direction do you see your work and career taking over the next few years?

MB: I have nooo no no no idea. Lack of ambition, being unable to plan far ahead etc., etc. Doing exhibitions with only my work is something I want to do though, and I suppose it is only a matter of time. Who knows what will happen!

Thanks Markus!  For past installments of In the Spotlight, click on the links.  

Mikel Marton | Ryan Pfluger | Jeffrey Kilmer | Luigi y Luca

This week I’ve been unearthing some work from the early pioneers of male nude photography - visions that shaped the artistic direction of many photographers that followed.  French photographer Raymond Voinquel’s vision drew inspiration frequently from classical Greek imagery, with sculptural poses that showcased the masculinity of his subjects but which also hinted at slightly feminine qualities.  The photos here were taken primarily during the 1940s but it’s amazing how parallel they run to much more modern pieces.