Post on 20-Sep-2020
transcript
David LaChapelle David LaChapelle was born in 1963 in Fairfield, Connecticut. He is an
acclaimed fashion, commercial, and fine art photographer known for his hyper-
realistic photographs with astute social messages about popular culture, religion, and
history. LaChapelle’s photography career began in the eighties when he began
showing his artwork in galleries around New York. He caught the attention of some of
the worlds most celebrated artists and publications: Andy Warhol, Interview Magazine,
Vanity Fair, French Vogue, Italian Vogue, GQ, Rolling Stone, and I-D. LaChapelle also
branched out and directed numerous music videos, and documentaries.
L a C h a p e l l e p h o t o g r a p h e d a
manifold of popular personalities. His
photographs always projected an image of
twenty-first century pop culture that has
elements of both admiration and criticism.
(Goren, 2011).
Fig.1 depicts rapper Lil’ Kim
featured in a Louis Vuitton advertising
campaign in 2004, shot be LaChapelle.
Here he combines marketing with blatant
criticism. As the Louis Vuitton logo is
imprinted on Kim’s naked body it borders
on straight sales promotion versus, the
Lil’ Kim for Louis Vuitton (2004) [fig.1]
commoditization of the female body. Depicting Kim as a luxury item.
Fig.2 features Courtney Love and a figure who looks like her late husband Kurt
Cobain, portrayed as baby Jesus on her lap. This
photograph illustrates the parallels between faith
and religion, and the adoration of pop culture
icons (depicting Cobain as a godlike figure). The
foreground features a child playing with blocks
that spell “Heaven to Hell”, which corresponds to
Cobain taking his own life; the eternal struggle
between anguish and peace. There are also marks
and wounds on the man’s arm to signify Cobain’s
heroin addiction. LaChapelle proves close
attention to smallest details can demonstrate the
biggest messages.
“Heaven to Hell” (2007) [fig.2]
Bibliography
Day, E, (2012). David LaChapelle: 'Fashion, beauty and glamour are the mark of civilisation'. The Observer, (online). Culture/Art and Design, 1. Available at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2012/feb/19/david-lachapelle-interview-fashion-photography (Accessed 22 November).
Goren, N, (2011). Post on Pop. (online). Available from: http://www.davidlachapelle.com/news/post-on-pop/. (Accessed November 21).
LaChapelle, D, (1999). Hotel LaChapelle. 1st ed. Boston: Bulfinch.
IMAGES
LaChapelle, D (2006). Heaven to Hell. 1st. ed. Köln: Taschen.