'There is a pervasive tendency to claim that Dijkstra’s greatest work is that which most readily evokes classical models, as if photography has any more need to justify itself than do the awkward and unfinished facts of the lives it depicts. The images from Bathers, as prime examples of what’s most essential and powerful about Dijkstra’s work, propose a new form of portraiture that is neither overly mannered in the traditional mode nor so emptied of humanity as to be meaningless. Their brute plainness challenges our ability to look at them, to only look, without the additional armatures of context or concept. The very quality that unnerves and misleads so many viewers—the apparent vacuity that can push you to exasperation—is their stealthy strength. They feel moronic in the best way possible: purposefully and intelligently so. Counter to the predominant lavender view, Dijkstra’s work could well be considered the cornerstone of this bleak but affirmative strike for photography’s future. Hers is a forced imposition of the visual void, one in line with Thomas Struth’s street scenes, Gerhard Richter’s obliterated postcard landscapes, and Bruce Nauman’s videos, a heroic and conscious refusal, a vanguard of the retarded.' -- Gil Blank, Influence Magazine
Further
* Rineke Dijkstra @ Marian Goodman Gallery
* Jennifer Higgie on RD @ Frieze
* 'What’s in a Portrait? Rineke Dijkstra’s Almerisa'
* 'Rineke Dijkstra's Best Shot'
* RD interviewed
* 'Why is she weeping? Rineke Dijkstra’s Liverpool videos'
* RD @ Facebook
Extras
Interview
How did you come up with the idea for the 'Beach' series?
I broke my hip about 15 years ago and started doing self-portraits after swimming in the pool where I was doing physiotherapy. I was fascinated by capturing something unconscious and natural in a photograph, something that was miles away from the boring and predictable businessmen I had until then mostly photographed. I was interested in photographing people at moments when they had dropped all pretence of a pose. Once I began taking these pictures, I realized I would prefer to do a series because it gave me a better grip on a subject.
How many frames do you shoot per subject?
I take about four or five sheets of film per subject, but I might shoot about five different people in a park on any given day. I've realized that I can't just go to a park and wait for the right person to turn up. I have to start working. Then I get into it and become part of the environment. It's a development. For example, a picture I took of a little girl in Barcelona only came about at the end of my working day. I was actually finished and packing up but then I saw her. She was there with her dad riding that scooter, looking at me like 'What are you doing?' and it's exactly the same look as in the photo. That's what I'm looking for. It's got to be emphatic. If you see the picture, it shouldn't look forced, it should look like a snapshot. You're not supposed to think it's all set up. You should take it for granted and it should be totally natural somehow. I took three frames of her. That's how long her concentration lasted. But I got my picture.
What art form does photography come closest to?
Perhaps sculpture. I think it's important that people understand and look at photography in a more abstract way. It's about being able to imagine looking behind the image as if it was three-dimensional.
Show
Park
Beach
----
*
p.s. Hey. Two things/alerts. (1) I'm going to preface this one by assuring you that Math, who will be speaking to you directly in a second, is just about the greatest, most responsible, hardest working, kindest, coolest, most considerate person I know, so please help her out if you can: 'hey, it's math.. i need a place to stay in Nyc, starting July 1, in the $600-800 range. i am an artist and would like to live with other artists/writers/scholars/etc. ideally i am looking for something in brooklyn, like east williamsburg / bushwick near the art scene. this might be for short or long term. i am responsible and pay for shit on time.' (2) I have an early Tuesday morning train to Brest, so there won't be an interactive p.s. tomorrow, just a hey and a brief intro to the day's post. I'll catch up with you and your comments again in my regular fashion on Wednesday. ** Jaws, Hey, welcome. I'll take that as a yes. ** Chris, My pleasure. Best of luck and everything else re: getting ready for the gig tomorrow, man. Wish I could be there. ** David, Jeez, I guess be happy you're not your neighbor. I'll join HWHA. I'd love me some 'Musical Highlights of '89' in post form, thank you. ** David Ehrenstein, Very nice about the concert. Tony Dow! Very nice new FaBlog post: 'Tony Heyward Goes Boating'. Beautifully done. Everyone, hit that link. ** Dooflow, Your plea seems to have stemmed the death tide for the weekend at least, so thanks. ** Stan_cz, Ha ha, the Yuppie Pricks do sound to be up John's musical alley. If 'World's Greatest Dad' or its DVD cover enter my field of vision, I'll be all over it. Mm, the copyright thing is up to you, I guess. I never do that, but the stuff I put up here is to be used by anyone else out there sees fit, and my own photos are just snap shots. I think there's a way to lock your images in place so they can't be downloaded, but I don't know how to do that. ** Sypha, Thanks for the hopefulness about the Current 93 post, and, for now, get that neck calmed down and some sleep. ** Steevee, I find myself actually quite excited to see 'Toy Story 3' given the ecstatic reports, but I'm also just Pixar lover in general. How was it? I've heard that about the Devo. I'm definitely going to get it. It's being compared to 'Oh no, it's Devo' which is my very favorite of their albums. ** Changeling, Juggling html code is never a joy, but it does get second naturey after a while. Lymes disease, really? From the camping trip? Man, I hope that's not so, but get that thing diagnosed and on the mend pronto, okay? No, I don't think 'Changeling Investigates' got to me. Hm. I'll go do a more thorough search when I get finished here. Thanks a lot for that. Yeah, I'll let you know what I find or don't. Any post -- wolves, SY, whatever -- you want to make for here sounds really great to me just so long as it's at least easy-ish and interesting for you to do. Happy Monday. ** Frank Jaffe, So, how's the dorm room? Are you a solo occupant? Glad LA is still making you happy. I wonder if that sushi place in Japantown you went to is the one all my friends swear by. I can't remember its name. ** Syreearmwellion, Hey. I like the earlier National albums. A couple of diehards I know thought the new one was a disappointment, I don't remember why. I'll get it. I'm sold. Any of those posts you suggest sound great, if the time and mood arise on your end, and none of their subjects have been spotlit here yet. Thanks for the thought, man. ** Armando, Hey, man! Always great to see you. I haven't seen 'Shutter Island' yet. Man, has that film gotten a polarized reaction among the people I trust. All the more reason to find out for myself. Awesome about your progress on your novelette. Don't think about whether it's good enough or whatever now. If I did that, I would have junked my novel a million times already. Just use your interest and energy and go go go. ** Alan, Hey. ** Chris Goode, Hey, man. Nice Lee Ranaldo artwork indeed. I hadn't seen that. Yarm is quite the city name, at least if you don't live in England and have those kinds of words at your fingertips. Yarm ... I like that. Enjoy your London break, man. I'll have a five day Paris break between the final 'TIHYWD' rehearsals in Brest and the super scary-ass premiere and run in Avignon which I intend to enjoy too, if you need symbolic company. Any Day you can cough up would submerge my knees even further into the earth than you've already drilled them. ** JW Veldhoen, No, you definitely don't sound like my mother when you're drunk. Your drunkenness definitely has a cock. ** 玫友 , You're losing your touch. ** Ken Baumann, Okay, I've got your book penciled in for the fall season, which is the prime slot among pub dates, need I say. ** Joseph, Dude, you're free! You're so free that I'm just typing this message to a bunch of whooshing air. Aw, thanks for the kindness. I'd be quite poor without you, and I will be until you log back in. If you see this, no, I haven't read 'IE' yet. Still waiting for copies to hit the English language bookstores here. Curious to hear your opinion. Anyway, welcome to DC, DC's, and the future. ** Toniok, You didn't get it? My email account is schizzy too. I'll ... no, I'll write to you with a repeat of what I said rather than spell it out here. I did see your gift-filled email in my box this morning, and thank you, and I'll write you back about it and the earlier missing stuff. ** Empty Frame, Hey. Quite the catty fantasy you've got going on there about the French team's problems. It got my Francophile dander up, but I think I can keep it in place. Gottfried Helnwein ... I'm so-so with a slight edge on the positive side, I'd say. I don't find his work's elegance and cleanliness as subversive as I think he hopes it will seem. I think that's my main quibble. ** Math, Oh, Math, shit, I'm so sorry. Slatted Light pretty much nailed what I would say to you right now with his consummate brilliance and economy. As painful as it is, it will pass. Duh, and no consolation at the moment, I know. I wish I was there to hang out and be with you right now, if that would help at all. Do you think this change will cement your thought to move West? It's probably too early to know. I love you, Math, and I think all of us around here do. Whatever I can do, please, don't even take a breath before asking, okay? ** Slatted Light, Hey, buddy boy. Great words to Math, as I just said. I had my say on Gysin's writing in a review of his collected writings book that's in 'Smothered in Hugs'. Briefly, I think he was an idea man and a very good visual artist, but he wasn't a writer. I feel like he must have written because it was the thing to do. For me, his writing itself is clumsy, ham-fisted, dull, tuneless, obvious, and just a complete chore to read. It's basically as simple a that. Absolutely yeah, I agree with your read on videogames' particular importance, and the stuff about their use as battlefield training was fascinating. Thanks, boyish buddy. ** _Black_Acrylic, Oh, cool, the goods! Hold on. Everyone, as mentioned the last time we spoke, the mighty Yuck 'n Yum had its launch event this weekend, and now we can peek into its realms to some degree. I'll let _B_A tell that tale: 'The full lowdown on Friday's goings-on: a few photos of the launch can be seen here, an artful photo of Ben 'Jack Your Body' Robinson in the mix is here and a list of the records I played is here. Most of the records are from the new wave of Chicago house music that I'm very keen on, a style based on the Roland TB-303 bass line synthesizer. I didn't see any bodies jacking but I gather it all went down quite well.' Love that formal B'JYB'R portrait. Those new glasses have worked the charm you'd imagined they would. A blog Day from you would be most splendid and helpful, if you have the time. Carry On Films, Saucy seaside postcards ... both fine topics, or whatever else might suit your fancy. Thanks for the thought, Ben. ** L@rstonovich, Yep, I had the kind of roommates of which you speak, and I guess I've been one of them myself. Woodring post, cool. You're at least the best, man, at least! Oh, and new stuff from none other than the Cartophile Imprint! I'll see what it is in full later on when my brain is free. Everyone, here's an exciting alert and offer from the one and only L@rstonovich. Read his words closely and then click the blue thing. 'Just posted to The Cartophile Imprint the second augmented field recording by Pine Needles (Scott T. Carto- go-founder). It's an audio tour of a local mall, recorded unknowingly the day after a shooting. Organ and (my primitive) percussion were then added to it. I think it came out great, it's perfect for background listening whilst one writes or surfs the net. It can be found here'. ** Bill, Hey. I'll get the ticket thing squared away, and no sweat. Do I want a post on medical wax models? Does the Pope shit in the woods, etc? Yes, and thank you in more polite words. Oh, what was that Svankmajer sculptures show like? How intriguing. ** Jax, Hey, Jax! Even at your cuddliest, I would never mistake you for Atheist. Speaking of which, I imagine she must be a mound with a head and limbs and frequent backaches by now. Things running smoothly and busily and excitedly on your end, pal? Savate day: thank you, thank you. ** You-x, Hey, J! Thank you for your kind words for Yury. He's hanging in there. You made us a post? Thank you! I'll go find it and write to you. Thanks a lot! I've never seen Takamatsu's work in person. I don't believe it's been shown outside of Japan. I came across it and immediately made the post using what little I could find about his stuff, and that's as much as I know at this point. My multi-taxing abilities were even more taxed in the 80s actually. As multi-busy as I am now, I don't know how I juggled all that stuff back then. Advice ... I kind of fear or suspect that multi-tasking is a genetic thing or something. Like you have to have the right combination of a short attention span, an overly diligent nature, a lot of energy, and the ability to take pleasure in sitting in one place for long periods. Seems to me from what I know that you have most of those aspects at least, no? ** Inthemostpeculiarway, Oh, score on the iPod Touch. I've got an older model, and even though it has pretty much been usurped by my iPhone, it served me very well. Nice when grandparents act like good grandparents. That bunny story was disturbing, but your prose made it shine. Thanks for using the loot from your first Wifi robbery to visit us. My weekend: A whole bunch of novel work. I'll just get that out of the way as a means to explain why my weekend will seem uneventful. Oscar and I metroed over to see the new show at the Palais de Tokyo, 'Dynasty', and, like virtually all PdT shows, it was fun to walk through and not so hot on the level of the art. A whole bunch of younger artists of wildly varying quality were grouped together under a title that sounds good but does nothing. A handful of cool things, a lot of meh. That doesn't make seeing it sound like fun, but it was. That was the Saturday highlight, I guess. Yesterday, I just worked, got some trip preparations done, did my laundry finally and rather painlessly. Yury and Oscar and I were thinking of going to a movie, but Yury slept all day until 8 pm, so we didn't. Maybe today instead, although I have a bunch of little errands to run too. Hm, anything else? Not that I can think of. Oh, well. I have two days now to do enough to build an interesting day report, and I'll get right on it. In the meantime, track your day in full color and 3D if possible please? ** Nb, Actually, a Day that consists of one sentence sounds cool, innovative even. Grand Canyon pix? Sure, please. Oh, gosh, LA tips. How about this? I'll write a bunch down on my train ride tomorrow and transcribe them into my next comment to you. Is that okay? I have a bit of pre-trip stress and a brain full of things I need to remember to do before I leave, and my tipster side is kind of avalanched. Give me that little rain check, and I'll do your suggestion box proud. ** Justin, Hey. Reply from me today once I get myself packed, organized, and erranded out if I possibly can. Sorry. My slowness on the email/ message front is one of my hugest downfalls. I saw some squib, headline, or something to do with 'True Blood' somewhere yesterday that said 'Bring me the Thai boy'. What does that mean? ** Creative Massacre, Hey. Oh, I got that June 29th release date from Amazon, but they're often wrong. Originally, I'd been told it was in mid-July. Dude, that's awesome and exciting about the CEO thing. Wow. Do you think some kind of job might be in the air? Would you want it, if it was? Congrats, and fingers very crossed. ** Misanthrope, Oh, curious about the semi-mysterious locale of this possible job. Damn, I hope that happens. When will you know? Would you move there if it happens? Sounds like you'd better put some serious parental controls on Little Show's computer. Sounds like he could get himself in all kinds of trouble. ** Todd Colby, Mr. Colby, greetings, what an honor and pleasure, sir! Thank you very kindly. I hope all is mega-well with you. ** Postitbreakup, Hey. A Postitbreakup 2 post would help out big time, of course, should you feel so inclined, and thank you very kindly in any case. ** Little foal, Hey, Darren. I'm so glad your weekend fulfilled my promise of awesomeness, and it definitely sounds as awesome as it gets. Friendship is everything's key, if you ask me. 'Punkplay' does sound quite exciting from that review. I hope a video will pop up somewhere someday. Wow, that thing you wrote is great. I'm very down with it. Everyone, do go read little foal's new piece of writing and very astute diagnosis of what ails us by clicking this. A pleasure, my friend. ** Okay, I have to go run errands and stuff. I'll just be waving at you and introducing the post tomorrow, and I'll see you full-on again the day after. Today's post: I thought my galerie should do some summery shows, and there's the first. Take care. A bit more tomorrow, a lot more on Wednesday.
No comments:
Post a Comment