Diana Arbus is a black and white film photographer from USA, who's photographic work was seen as controversial and ahead of her time.
No other photographers were using such extreme subject matters in their photography.
Her work was worshipped by millions, but there was still controversy surrounding her work, as Norman Mailer (quoted 1971) states:
"Giving a camera to Diane Arbus is like putting a live grenade in the hands of a child."-Norman Mailer, 1971
She began her photography career as a fashion and commercial photographer, with her husband, Alan Arbus, in New York right after WW2 in 1946.
After their divorce (1969) she maintained her interest in photography, living amongst artists in New York City.
She created Black and White Square Format images of people often considered as 'freaks' as her subject matter: dwarfs, giants, transvestites and triplets.
"Freaks was a thing I photographed alot... most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They're already past their test in life. They're aristocrats."-Diane Arbus
Her images and personality seemed to slide more and more into depression.
Her final images were of people with intellectual disabilities, such as Downs Syndrome.
Eventually at age 48, in 1971, Diane Arbus committed suicide.
A year after Diane Arbus took her life, she became the first American photographer to have work displayed at the 'Venice Biennale.' ( A contemporary art exhibition in Venice, Italy held every 2 years)
In 2006, a movie called 'Fur', starring Nicole Kidman, was created that showed a fictional version of Diane Arbus's life.
I can see why Diane Arbus would photograph such strange subject matter, we've always been told not to stare or make fun of people who are different. It's human nature to look in awe at things that are different–out of curiosity, not rudeness!
A photo I took of a busker on Queen Street, I noticed everyone avoided him at all costs: no eye contact, smiles, or loose change. (I'm not judging–it's just something I noticed!)
I have a sort of fascination of homeless people.. I'm not quite sure what it is, it could be their lack of caring, they're usually always grim faces.
I sometimes feel they are more real and true than alot of the people that look down at them.
One of my photographs of homeless people- check out his intense expression (..and his feet.)
How do you feel about freaks?
Do you see the need to capture their expressions or uniqueness??
Is there something strange that you find visually appealing?
References:
Various Authors, (last modified 22 May 2010), Diane Arbus, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diane_Arbus, Retrieved 05 July 2010
Bosworth, Patricia (2005) Diane Arbus A Biography, London, Vintage
When I was younger we used to have a book at home that had something just like this in it.
ReplyDeleteI remember becuase they all freaked me out at the time haha.
But from time to time I would always look at it, because I think we are always intrigued by strange things or people. Sometimes you just have to stare.
That picture of the homeless man is FANTASTIC.
He looks so puzzled and deep in thought. You could sit there all day thinking of captions for what he is thinking, liikee...
"If toast always lands butter side up and cats always land on their feet, what would happen if you tied a buttered piece of toast to a cats back?"
Hahaha!
ReplyDeleteMy toast always lands butter side down..so I generally have rather dirty toast.
Strenthens my immune system ha!
He could be thinking: "Man..I reheally need to cut my toenails. They look kind of tasty though.."
I wonder if it was a Diane Arbus book that you had?