Mapplethorpe Video Notes

Robert Mapplethorpe 

Born in 1946, in New York, Died in 1989. 

Mapplethorpe was raised as a Catholic, in Surburban America. However, as he describes himself, this area is safe and good, which wasn't enough for him - he wanted excitement, not calm and therefore, moved to Brooklyn.  

Attended Pratt Institution of Art where he was introduced to Photography, and where he met a life long friend Patti Smith. They ended up living together. 

Mapplethorpe is known for his black and white portraits, and is famous for being a controversial artist. His photography always shocks it's audience.

Mapplethorpe is described as America's most controversial photographer 

Mapplethorpe targeted rich people as they had the money to pay for the portraits. He also did album covers. 

However, controversially, he documented Manhattan's gay community within his photographs, which he was actually a part of. This made people argue whether his work was actually pornography or art. This series of photographs was taken in the late 60s, early 70s. He simply photographed what he lived.

Mapplethorpe consistently focused on race, sex and sexuality within his images.

Mapplethorpe was frequently asked the following question: "Did you set out to shoot?", and his reply was that he did not intend to shock his audience, he shot his photographs for his own reasons, which he described as being quite selfish. 

As Mapplethorpe was gay, he came out only to his mum, and did not tell his dad. 

Mapplethorpe did shoot a series of photographs of flowers, but he only did this for the money, he was not interested in botanical photography in the slightest. 

Although Mapplethorpes style of photography is simple, he always had full attention to detail. 

Mapplethorpe never staged or costumed his photographs.