Mapplethorpe. - Notes.
Robert Mapplethorpe was born on the 4th of November 1946 in Floral Park, Queens. During his life his favourite quote for the area he lived in, in his childhood is: ' I come from suburban America. It was a very safe environment and it was a good place to come from in that is was a good place to leave.' He then later died of AIDS on the 9th of March 1989 at the age of 42.
During the time, Robert Mapplethorpe was working in his career his work stood out for being outrageous and highly stylised. His work was best known for the large-scaled and highly stylised black and white photographs of flowers but also nude men. Mapplethorpe's first photographs were of his close friend Patti Smith (The singer, Poet and Artist) in which where taken with a polaroid camera.
In 1963, Mapplethorpe enrolled at Pratt Institute. In the Pratt Institute, Mapplethorpe studied drawing, painting and sculpture. As he was influenced by the artists such as Joseph Cornell and Marcel Duchamp, he become experimental with various materials in mixed media collages, this included images cut from books and materials. Once he had acquires a Polaroid camera in 1970, he produced his own photographs, in which were incorporated into the collages. In that year he and Patti Smith, who he had met three years earlier moved into the Chelsea Hotel.
Mapplethorpes first ever solo Exhibition was in New York in 1973. This solo based Exhibition was on 'Polaroid's'.
Two years later after his gallery exhibition, he acquired a Hasselblad medium format camera and began too shoot only his circle of friends and acquaintances e.g. artists, musicians, socialites, pornographic film stars and members of the S and M underground. As well as this he also worked on the commercial projects, creating album cover art for his close friend Patti Smith and a television as well as a serious of portraits and party pictures for Interview magazine.
The late 70's was when Mapplethorpe grew increasingly interested in the New York S and M scene for documenting. The photographs in which were revealed were shocking for their content and remarkable for the technical form. In late 1988, Mapplethorpe spoke too ARTnews and told them; "I don't like that particular word 'Shocking'. I'm looking for the unexpected. I'm looking for things i've never seen before... I was in a position to take those pictures. I felt an obligation to do them".' Later in 1977, Mapplethorpe participated in Documenta 6 in Kassel, West Germany before in 1987 the Robert Miller Gallery in New York City became his exclusive dealer.
In 1980, Mapplethorpe met the first World Women's Bodybuilding champion Lisa Lyon. Over the several years they knew each other, they collaborated on a series of portraits, a film and the book: 'Lady, Lisa Lyon'. Throughout these 80's, Robert decided to produce images that simultaneously challenge classical standards: Stylised compositions of male and female nudes, delicate flower still life and studio portraits of artist's and celebrities. He also introduced and refined different techniques and formats. These included; Colour 20" X 24" Polaroids, Photogravures, Platinum prints on paper and linen but also Dye transfer colour prints.
Later in 1986, Robert was diagnosed with AIDS. Even though he was diagnosed with his illness, he continued his creative efforts and broadened the scope of his photographic inquiry but also accepted the increasingly challenging commissions.
During the time, Robert Mapplethorpe was working in his career his work stood out for being outrageous and highly stylised. His work was best known for the large-scaled and highly stylised black and white photographs of flowers but also nude men. Mapplethorpe's first photographs were of his close friend Patti Smith (The singer, Poet and Artist) in which where taken with a polaroid camera.
In 1963, Mapplethorpe enrolled at Pratt Institute. In the Pratt Institute, Mapplethorpe studied drawing, painting and sculpture. As he was influenced by the artists such as Joseph Cornell and Marcel Duchamp, he become experimental with various materials in mixed media collages, this included images cut from books and materials. Once he had acquires a Polaroid camera in 1970, he produced his own photographs, in which were incorporated into the collages. In that year he and Patti Smith, who he had met three years earlier moved into the Chelsea Hotel.
Mapplethorpes first ever solo Exhibition was in New York in 1973. This solo based Exhibition was on 'Polaroid's'.
Two years later after his gallery exhibition, he acquired a Hasselblad medium format camera and began too shoot only his circle of friends and acquaintances e.g. artists, musicians, socialites, pornographic film stars and members of the S and M underground. As well as this he also worked on the commercial projects, creating album cover art for his close friend Patti Smith and a television as well as a serious of portraits and party pictures for Interview magazine.
The late 70's was when Mapplethorpe grew increasingly interested in the New York S and M scene for documenting. The photographs in which were revealed were shocking for their content and remarkable for the technical form. In late 1988, Mapplethorpe spoke too ARTnews and told them; "I don't like that particular word 'Shocking'. I'm looking for the unexpected. I'm looking for things i've never seen before... I was in a position to take those pictures. I felt an obligation to do them".' Later in 1977, Mapplethorpe participated in Documenta 6 in Kassel, West Germany before in 1987 the Robert Miller Gallery in New York City became his exclusive dealer.
In 1980, Mapplethorpe met the first World Women's Bodybuilding champion Lisa Lyon. Over the several years they knew each other, they collaborated on a series of portraits, a film and the book: 'Lady, Lisa Lyon'. Throughout these 80's, Robert decided to produce images that simultaneously challenge classical standards: Stylised compositions of male and female nudes, delicate flower still life and studio portraits of artist's and celebrities. He also introduced and refined different techniques and formats. These included; Colour 20" X 24" Polaroids, Photogravures, Platinum prints on paper and linen but also Dye transfer colour prints.
Later in 1986, Robert was diagnosed with AIDS. Even though he was diagnosed with his illness, he continued his creative efforts and broadened the scope of his photographic inquiry but also accepted the increasingly challenging commissions.
