Robert Mapplethorpe Video Notes

• Born in New York in 1946 and died of aids in 1989.
• Went to the Pratt institution of Art where he met Patti Smith, they lived together she was a life long friend .
• Known for his portraits ( mostly black&white) on many album covers etc.
• Documented Manhattans Gay
  
  
  community which he was  a part of, this work was seen as controversial
• Questions frequently asked ; is it pornography or art? did he do it to shock?
• Born catholic so only came out as gay to his mother
• Took flower pictures only to get money and flower photos are the 2nd best seller
• His portraits were simple with good lighting
• Mostly photographed the rich and famous

• his work challenges the limits of acceptability
• He did it for selfish reasons as he wanted to see it not to shock
• He is the one who selects the photographs not the client who pays for them
• Clients do not get to see the contact sheets only the shots which he pics
• When he got his nipple pierced he got it filmed by Sandy Pally.
• Lived in suburban america which was a safe environment with no excitement
• At 16 he started art school training and moved to Brooklyn
• Patti Smith & Robert lived together during the 70's 
• Wasn't self destructive but exploratoive . Always positive
• Naive, started with portraits, still lives and sexuality
• Religion only slightly affects his life
• Uses his friends for his work
• Famous for his controversial sexual photos 
• He retains feeling of watching porn when he captures his pictures
• He captured aggressive sexuality pictures
• He knew what the audience wanted to see
• He led the community and his work reflected it
• Robert never victimised people, only captured what was already out there.
• John Miltion - Society has the right to look at everything in society, the people in his photographs were his friends they trusted him
• His work is a statement of the time we live in and our priorities