David LaChapelle (P)

LaChapelle was born in 1963, he is a well known and controversial Fine Art, commercial photographer as well as a music and film director.


His early photography interests came from the way his mother would set up family portraits and she encouraged this interest in the art direction. At the age of 17 he got work photographing and documenting the work of Warhol and Interview magazine. Warhol was to have said do what ever you like as long as it looks good.






He is best known for his photography, which often references art history and sometimes conveys social messages. His work well its full in many ways, humour, colour, fact, environmental issues, portraits of many celebrities. He has exhibited his work in several galleries and museums over the years. His work structure played a massive part in his mental health and while working 14 hour days and always demanding perfection in all he did left him exhausted and some what of a binge drinker. He left all the madness and found himself searching for a more peaceful life, He was also diagnosed having bipolar disorder and being gay from a young age, he conceived himself he had aids. It seems to me that the work load did indeed impact on his health.  Now retired on a Hawaiian island aged 51 he still makes work that is away from the commercial and fashion  style and now is considered is style now is more fine art based. On reflection he said "he had nothing left to say in the realm of fashion", his themes became difficult for magazines to digest.

 




Work i intend to look at is from two of the still lifes series.


The first one is the wax works Lachapelle decided to photograph after they were destroyed by vandalism in the Dublin wax work museum.



       






For me these images do give me a sense of unease. Maybe because many of the celebrities are dead and it feels wrong to see them in a vulnerable and somewhat unnatural light.


The scale of the photographs I feel do impact on the viewer and how we connect to them. The portraiture style and composition given to them make them more realistic. The lighting works well to gives this affect also. 


I enjoy how these images make me feel slighty ill upon considering the person. It makes me think of the condition the celebrities do face and ask Lachapelle said just how fragile we are.


The second still life series is the flower still life.

So far this one is my personal favorite. The flowers remand me of the female genitials. Mixed with the images of the dolls and the round peach etc. I find this image speaks of sexuality, mothers instinct  and live.


   

Its hard to tell if its a photograph or a painting. I feel he has used many techniques to give this style. From the symbolic style of the old masters of still life he gives a modern hint and wants the viewer to question the hidden meaning. I do believe this works well.  His work is packed with the modern age like the plastics. He has researched and considered every little thing as well as the title and seasons.

I feel connected on many levels of this guys work and would like to consider his work further later down the line.