(http://www.pbs.org/art21/artists/mann/img/bio.jpg)
One looking for connections to noise/pe of this infamous photographer, needs to look no further than names like Macronympha or Nicole 12. Not so obvious as stolen images for front cover, but people paying attention might find references.
Since the day I came across "Immediate Family", I became very interested to find all possible printed works from her. Before the quite recent books "What Remains" and "Deep South", there was quite limited availability of her works.
for more info, web is full, but can be started for example here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sally_Mann
http://www.pbs.org/art21/artists/mann/index.html
some works: http://www.pbs.org/art21/slideshow/?artist=138
http://www.pbs.org/art21/slideshow/?show=228
(http://www.kochgallery.com/images/artists/contemporary/Mann/Fallen_Child.jpg)
(http://www.pbs.org/art21/slideshow/artists/m/mann-photo2-005.jpg)
one of finest images capturing life & death, beaty and decay etc...
(http://www.strotherfineart.com/gallery/sally_mann/photos/photo_18.jpg)
There has been 2 exhibitions of her works in Finland. First back in early 90's, another.. 1-2 years ago? Jpegs online are fine, but do very little justice to actual physical book, and even less for actually seeing the full sized silver gelating prints properly displayed.
(http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/8766/2883219316060c2fc58d.jpg) (http://img46.imageshack.us/i/2883219316060c2fc58d.jpg/)
"Three graces"
This was held at exhibition Helsinki couple years ago. I am not that much into S/M`s work but THIS photo is very fascinating.
I remember seeing that photo a few years ago. Reminds me of some amazonian earth mother feminist worship bollocks. HORRIBLE!
I think the latest actual book, Proud Flesh, was good, but not amazing. It had more similarity to previous Gagosian Gallery title, I think simply called exhibition catalog 2006? with close-up's of the faces. It was more of catalogue of exhibition. I guess still sold by this NYC gallery, although price vs. amount of content is not that good unless you're big fan.
But talking of catalogues, latest Mann title I was extremely enthusiastic to finally get, is the 2009 Christies auction catalogue! c. 70 pages in glossy A4 paperback format. It overlaps with Immediate Family, Deep South and little bit with the the book of faces, but most importantly, is had plenty of photography that has never appeared in the books. Knowing the level of Christie's, you can expect only the good reproductions. Varied from full page to postcard size, plenty of late 80's and early 90's photos (read: Immediate Family era) which have only been issued as hand numbered ltd 25 copies original photos. Being limited to 25 and most of the auction prices varied between 10000-15000$ per photo, so the this catalogue seems like only way to really get to see them.
In What Remains document, Mann says there is vast archives of material, but remains up to models to decide if they will ever be released. Lets hope so!
We looked at Sally Mann in an art theory class, and I inadvertently referenced Nicole 12 in defending it. The women in the class, comprised of mostly youngish, just out of highschool students, were convinced that the images were pornographic, and I had to explain the difference between Mann's photography (and really, any nude photography) and pornography. It is an important distinction, and it's one that gets often misconstrued in the United States, and subsequently Canada.
I think there's something very wrong with the people who think what Sally Mann does is pornography. I prefer her What Remains series to the kid stuff anyways because I'm fascinated with decomposition and those photos present a very interesting view on decomposition and death, about as far from morbid as you could get with such subject matter.
One can say that, but one can also say that when Sally plays with such a clear "taboo" subjects, as death, underage nudity, mighty nature taking over the collapsed lands showing the short lasting lifespan of human... One can't say that it would be ALSO (intentionally) provoking. Her motivations appear to be different, but surely she is aware of that side of her work.
I always preferred Arbus to Mann although some wouldn't even compare them. Sally Mann's "What Remains" book is awesome though.
(http://markpowerblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/mann.jpg)
I hadn't heard of her, although she's apparently achieved a considerable degree of fame.
Exceptional stuff; I'll be making a thorough investigation of her work. Thanks!
New book, The Flesh And The Spirit is amazing.
Not only it is first real anthology of her work, which she nearly refused to do. 200+ pages. Collected her all types of works, dividing each style & approach into chapters, with some before seen images but also stuff that's never been printed before. Includes for example Color versions of Immediate Family related works. Some of the same images as appear on b/w, some that has not been seen before. What Remains material, with alternative camera, shot in full color, what transforms the eerie b/w atmosphere of the "official" book, into utterly morbid visions of sharp colorful images, which should appeal to fans of Tsurisaki.
When you buy this book, you don't necessarily need Gagosian Gallery releases (self titled and proud flesh). Of course they are amazing, but if you have to decide over those relatively thin yet large sized hardcovers, this anthology should be enough for most.
Well done introductions for motivations, techniques, etc of every chapter.
Because this is Aperture related release, you can expect it to arrive to any serious art book shop of big bookstores. No need to hunt down some specialist sellers. Was it 55,- or something like that in price range, don't hesitate.
Not to get off topic but Manns work has a similar style to Larry Clarks photobook Tulsa although Manns has a more romanticized aesthetic, I am also a fan of Nan Goldins work who also romanticizes the harsh and dark side of life, but contrasts with moments of joy and happiness.
Same style??
I don't think there is almost anything same in what they do?
Black and white photography? Yes, but just about everybody shoots black & white. Mann & Clark are technically very very far.
Some underage nudity and underlying violent tone in some images? Possibly, but Clark Tulsa is about dysfuctional teenage trouble makers... in fight, drugs and lawless life in general. Corruption and impurity. His nudity is grown out of teenage confusion and rebellion, while Mann is more about utmost purity and natural. Clarks violence is like bums fighting over who gets the joint, while Mann studies southern history and humans relations to approaching end of life.
I would see these works nearly opposites?
Clark is interesting enough for subject matter, but I wouldn't consider too interesting talent what comes to actual photographs. Tulsa, is a book to have, but not worth paying much.
I was refering more to visual style rather than conceptual ideas and colour film is the most dominant format in current contemporary photography. Although I do get where your coming from, Clarks rawness probably sits closer aesthetically and subject matter with Goldins early work.
"visual style"?
I mean, Clark style is the kind of private snapshots of with pretty low artistic touch. Pretty bleak and lame tonality, like just being someones hobby in times when b/w photography was the norm. He would take snapshot to film and have paper print of it? And context and intent would only make it "art". Otherwise it would be just relatively low quality snapshot of someone hanging around in same flat as he was, possible doing dope. Just document of his troubled life at the time. I mean, if we talk about TULSA?
Manns visual style is exaggerated craftmanship and celebration on magical imperfect accidental artifacts caused in the process. Some are accidental shots, but many are staged into perfection and very little "documentary" in way mentioned above. A long time shot on glass negatives or later even glass positives (the black glass being the photo itself), with utmost care on tonality and making unique prints. Also prints themselves would be often utmost quality unique hand made prints of archival quality.
I can't see anything same in visual style. One could rather say that Mann has more common with for example Jock Sturges. But also their similarities are most of all vaguely, crossing in points such as "successful & known artists" and "using nude people". But their approach and intention, not to mention actual results are far far away from eachother. This is also well illustrated in amusing story Sturges tells in documentary about him. Incident what happened at Mann's house. Some kid fall flat on his nose, with result of nose-bleed. Every other high class photographer acted on parental instinct and seek best way to solve this situation. Comfort, stop bleeding, etc. but not Mann. She would first ran to get her camera, to get the photo of kid with blood running down the face. And it disturbed Sturges, who's aim is, of course, to capture the utmost natural beauty of human - or should it even be said - person?
Sturges would shift from large format film into digital as soon as technology was advanced enough. Mann would go even further to technic not after film, but BEFORE film existed. And it's hard to get past the technique and craftmanship, when it's nearly reaching towards pictorialism, while these two guys mentioned here, just more or less capture the existing reality with quite regular means.
Of course, this is more of situation similar to someone saying Pain Jerk sounds like Incapacitants. And on some level, yeah, but really not at all.
I think Clark was much better movie maker than photographer. I think reprint of Tulsa is found quite cheap as A4 size paperback book. If one likes his movies, it's not a bad purchase, but I wouldn't put it very high on "must have" list.
Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on May 02, 2011, 01:35:43 PM
I think Clark was much better movie maker than photographer. I think reprint of Tulsa is found quite cheap as A4 size paperback book. If one likes his movies, it's not a bad purchase, but I wouldn't put it very high on "must have" list.
definetely agree that he is a better filmmaker and I think he potrays his message across more succesfully in that format.
necrobump
this evening, i had the pleasure of attending (and working at) a lecture that sally mann gave.. apparently she's writing a book, mostly autobiographical, but she explains in great detail where her inspirations come from ... she read the first two chapters and showed appropriate images to accompany the reading. very, very good stuff. and she's a really nice woman.
she also discussed some series of works that have never been shown or published, as well as pieces she has coming up. keep an eye out, it all sounds quite good.
I thought I had already mentioned her documentary: WHAT REMAINS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNEd93H4pPY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNkpTMBVepI&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNg-FrdcDj0&feature=related
her exhibition at Fotografiska in Stockholm this summer was one of the best I've visited. never seen such striking portrayal of death and beauty. they had a book available in their store but I couldn't afford picking it up... the entrance fee was 130 SEK, but well worth it.
DVD is good purchase. I saw some clips of that in her exhibition in Helsinki, and there was no time to spend full film worth in gallery. DVD is available easily and it includes bonus feature of the older film, from times of "Immediate Family" and scandal of bad media hysteria and such. If one watches that document, it's easy to see what inspired N12 "Black Line" theme.
New book came out. Biography with photos. I would hope for more photos, but this book is very good for getting peak around photos.. or hmm.. not sure how to say it. Lets say, to see examples of less exciting frames from same situation, where artist gives keeps taking new picture before things are right. Very small differences of gesture, facial expression, or such detail what dramatically changes atmosphere of photo.
Several iconic Mann photos are being exposed through this method. I have yet to find time to read bigraphy, and not entirely sure will I even need to read book cover-to-cover, but some chapters appear more interesting than the others.