You know the feeling when you walk through distinct photography exhibitions, but each leaves you feeling elated and joyful? Yes, we did, too. That’s why we are bringing you two exciting photography exhibitions at the Weinstein Hammons Gallery, celebrating the works of two renowned photographers: Robert Mapplethorpe and Erik Madigan Heck. One master of human anatomy and the other of fashion, the two exhibits will certainly change your perspective.
The lead image is by Robert Mapplethorpe, courtesy of Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation and Weinstein Hammons Gallery. All images are used with permission.
First, let’s talk about Robert Mapplethorpe’s exhibition. Titled Double Exposure, the showcase features 20 pieces, including gelatin silver photographs, vintage lithographs, and rare prints from 1976 to 1988. As one of the most influential figures in photography of the 20th century, Mapplethorpe transformed the way we saw and shot images. With human anatomy being one of his favored subjects, Mapplethorp’s photographs portray the beauty of what makes our bodies so distinct.
Akin to this, the Double Exposure exhibition depicts Mapplethorpe’s analysis of dual subjects, many photographed in one frame or presented as paired installations. The works also include the photographer’s self-portrait alongside his muse, Lisa Lyon. There is also a personal moment shared between Larry and Bobby, who kissed on set, while a striking portrait of Ken Moody and Robert Sherman. There is also an image of another sitter called Clifton, and the images of his, where one eye is open and the other closed, are also displayed side by side. Through the pairings, the Robert Mapplethorpe exhibitions hope to create a visual dialogue that highlights the significance of contrasts, duality, and connection.
Now, coming to Erik Madigan Heck’s work, the exhibition will display six new photographs, which are a part of his monograph, The Tapestry. The images focus on history, as well as Impressionist and Contemporary paintings. However, what makes his work distinct is that in doing so, Heck challenges perceptions and highlights the true nature of human experience. The colorful photographs are also very painterly, which one can credit to his mother, a painter, who has shaped his style. Through varied themes of landscape, fashion, still life, portraiture, and abstraction, Heck welcomes you to a work that is as unique as it is wonderful.
If you look at Mapplethorpe and Heck’s works side by side, you will notice the complexities of both artistic styles. While Mapplethorpe uses still life, portraits, and fashion, which is grounded in reality, Heck’s work seems like it was plucked from a fairytale book. The colors in Hech’s photographs, which are deep hues of blues, greens, and reds, will jolt your senses, while Mapplethorpe’s images will make you ponder over due to the tension of duality. Heck’s photographs are grand in scale and, in some ways, also remind you of royalty. As for Mapplethorpe, his pictures are all about the intricacies of relationships between humans, animals, and land, as well as about harmony and acceptance.
If you intend to visit both exhibits, we suggest you start from Mapplethorpe and then visit Heck. The former’s exhibition showcases what makes us human, while the latter’s will take a rather surreal turn and urge your imagination to run while. However, on the whole, both Robert Mapplethorpe and Erik Madigan Heck’s exhibitions prove how photography can be one of the most transformative forms of expression in the world.
For more information about the exhibitions, please visit the Weinstein Hammons Gallery website.