Comments on: NYPH09: Controversial Photographers http://www.heathermorton.ca/blog/?p=2091 HeatherMortonArt buyer Sun, 05 Sep 2010 17:36:34 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Ruben Natal-San Miguel http://www.heathermorton.ca/blog/?p=2091&cpage=1#comment-27724 Ruben Natal-San Miguel Tue, 02 Jun 2009 07:17:28 +0000 http://www.heathermorton.ca/blog/?p=2091#comment-27724 Hello! Yes, I was the one who told Chis Boot about the show.I was at the talk also but, did not voiced my opinion then. I went to the show for a second time and like Chris indicated, I had a conversation with him about it and expressed my concerns. See my review here: http://artmostfierce.blogspot.com/2009/05/ny-photo-festival-2009-round-3.html Hello!
Yes, I was the one who told Chis Boot about the show.I was at the talk also but, did not voiced my opinion then. I went to the show for a second time and like Chris indicated, I had a conversation with him about it and expressed my concerns.
See my review here:
http://artmostfierce.blogspot.com/2009/05/ny-photo-festival-2009-round-3.html

]]> By: Photographing the “Centre of War” — HeatherMortonArt buyer http://www.heathermorton.ca/blog/?p=2091&cpage=1#comment-27693 Photographing the “Centre of War” — HeatherMortonArt buyer Thu, 28 May 2009 03:21:39 +0000 http://www.heathermorton.ca/blog/?p=2091#comment-27693 [...] Ronit Novak is back. You may remember her from such HMAb posts as NYPH09: Controversial Photographers and The Buzz about Tim Hetherington. But wait, there’s more. Ronit writes: From my NYPH audio [...] [...] Ronit Novak is back. You may remember her from such HMAb posts as NYPH09: Controversial Photographers and The Buzz about Tim Hetherington. But wait, there’s more. Ronit writes: From my NYPH audio [...]

]]> By: Myles http://www.heathermorton.ca/blog/?p=2091&cpage=1#comment-27654 Myles Fri, 22 May 2009 16:23:22 +0000 http://www.heathermorton.ca/blog/?p=2091#comment-27654 I am not so sure about this statement: and unlike most other documentary photographers, his work actually does change the world. I find it rather insulting to the great work of many many photojournalists! Is there tangible proof the world is better because of his images? Not that I can see. How does this play next to work by a photographer like Marcus Bleasdale who is actually chasing down those who invest in the Congo to show them the damage they are doing by investing there? Maybe there is something at the show itself that I was not privy too as I did not see it - but from where I sit it is similar in flavour to that of Boris Mikhailov and his work that documented the results of the collapse of the USSR. Not to say this work is not 'good' or 'important' but to diminish the work of others is taking it a bit too far and I don't think that was your intention. I am not so sure about this statement: and unlike most other documentary photographers, his work actually does change the world. I find it rather insulting to the great work of many many photojournalists! Is there tangible proof the world is better because of his images? Not that I can see. How does this play next to work by a photographer like Marcus Bleasdale who is actually chasing down those who invest in the Congo to show them the damage they are doing by investing there? Maybe there is something at the show itself that I was not privy too as I did not see it – but from where I sit it is similar in flavour to that of Boris Mikhailov and his work that documented the results of the collapse of the USSR. Not to say this work is not ‘good’ or ‘important’ but to diminish the work of others is taking it a bit too far and I don’t think that was your intention.

]]> By: Photography in Subculture — HeatherMortonArt buyer http://www.heathermorton.ca/blog/?p=2091&cpage=1#comment-27651 Photography in Subculture — HeatherMortonArt buyer Fri, 22 May 2009 02:36:57 +0000 http://www.heathermorton.ca/blog/?p=2091#comment-27651 [...] (Boot) for speaking frankly about their expectations of the show in their recent post comments on HMAb here. [...] (Boot) for speaking frankly about their expectations of the show in their recent post comments on HMAb here.

]]> By: Chris Boot http://www.heathermorton.ca/blog/?p=2091&cpage=1#comment-27649 Chris Boot Thu, 21 May 2009 17:36:46 +0000 http://www.heathermorton.ca/blog/?p=2091#comment-27649 Hi Heather and all... I hope its helpful to clarify a couple of things about the exhibition 'Gay Men Play'. It attempted to address the phenomenon of how gay men are making and consuming sex photographs... whether pictures made for artistic purposes, exhibitionistic purposes, or for the practical purpose of attracting sexual partners. The reasoning behind it is that I do think photography is playing a distinct role in changing sexual practices - something that applies especially to gay men, but no doubt to all other sections of society as well. And that art and porn are speaking to each other like never before. The exhibition was a mix of art and anthropology, and while I wouldn't say that it its main intention was to provoke people, I thought there would be more debate and argument about it than there was. I thought the explicit sex pictures - of which there were some, including fistfucking scenes and a guy being raped with a baseball bat, for instance - presented in a serious art photo context, might get some people worked up. I thought the fact that I separated out gay men (very unfashionably) for attention would bother some people. And I imagined some people would argue with the representation of gay men being sex obsessed, preoccupied with sex as a game, and casual about their own and their partners' sexual health (which could be inferred from at least some parts of what was shown). I grew up in an era when people got worked up about such things, but I admit it is probably nostalgic to imagine people getting animated about representation issues today. But, in any case, one visitor to the show did react in a way that I think was absolutely valid... Reuben on the artmostfierce blog responded: "At a time of which another sector of the Gay Community is trying to tear down another barrier, this time GAY Marriage , here comes this show with a strong and in your face message far...way too away from family values. Was it my favorite show at the NY Photo Festival? ...No. Does it have documentary value,purpose and there is talent in it? Absolutely YES! "Does it bother me that after so many years of donating money and volunteering tirelessly for AIDS organizations, some of those on line, are friends of mine (still alive thanks to all my efforts) being the firsts Pariahs behind a computer still looking for quick sex, drugs and I hope not infecting others? Hell Yeah!" Hi Heather and all… I hope its helpful to clarify a couple of things about the exhibition ‘Gay Men Play’. It attempted to address the phenomenon of how gay men are making and consuming sex photographs… whether pictures made for artistic purposes, exhibitionistic purposes, or for the practical purpose of attracting sexual partners. The reasoning behind it is that I do think photography is playing a distinct role in changing sexual practices – something that applies especially to gay men, but no doubt to all other sections of society as well. And that art and porn are speaking to each other like never before. The exhibition was a mix of art and anthropology, and while I wouldn’t say that it its main intention was to provoke people, I thought there would be more debate and argument about it than there was. I thought the explicit sex pictures – of which there were some, including fistfucking scenes and a guy being raped with a baseball bat, for instance – presented in a serious art photo context, might get some people worked up. I thought the fact that I separated out gay men (very unfashionably) for attention would bother some people. And I imagined some people would argue with the representation of gay men being sex obsessed, preoccupied with sex as a game, and casual about their own and their partners’ sexual health (which could be inferred from at least some parts of what was shown). I grew up in an era when people got worked up about such things, but I admit it is probably nostalgic to imagine people getting animated about representation issues today.

But, in any case, one visitor to the show did react in a way that I think was absolutely valid… Reuben on the artmostfierce blog responded:

“At a time of which another sector of the Gay Community is trying to tear down another barrier, this time GAY Marriage , here comes this show with a strong and in your face message far…way too away from family values. Was it my favorite show at the NY Photo Festival? …No. Does it have documentary value,purpose and there is talent in it? Absolutely YES!

“Does it bother me that after so many years of donating money and volunteering tirelessly for AIDS organizations, some of those on line, are friends of mine (still alive thanks to all my efforts) being the firsts Pariahs behind a computer still looking for quick sex, drugs and I hope not infecting others? Hell Yeah!”

]]> By: Chris Clary http://www.heathermorton.ca/blog/?p=2091&cpage=1#comment-27647 Chris Clary Wed, 20 May 2009 18:57:43 +0000 http://www.heathermorton.ca/blog/?p=2091#comment-27647 Heather, great point. Per "Is Chris Boot objectifying the gay gaze?" -- I believe yes. On another blog, someone posted that Stefan's portraits were only surface deep. That's partly what makes them compelling because to "play" isn't necessarily an expression of inner self. And I know my collection is all about the object. It was amazing to see people touch the wallpaper. Isn't that a way of knowing someone. When was the last time you touched a photograph or computer screen? "There wasn’t controversy" because either we know this to be true or maybe the gay press wasn't out in force. I know Chris Boot wanted a more engaged debate because the work varied on what was being objectified. Heather, great point.

Per “Is Chris Boot objectifying the gay gaze?” — I believe yes. On another blog, someone posted that Stefan’s portraits were only surface deep. That’s partly what makes them compelling because to “play” isn’t necessarily an expression of inner self.

And I know my collection is all about the object. It was amazing to see people touch the wallpaper. Isn’t that a way of knowing someone. When was the last time you touched a photograph or computer screen?

“There wasn’t controversy” because either we know this to be true or maybe the gay press wasn’t out in force. I know Chris Boot wanted a more engaged debate because the work varied on what was being objectified.

]]> By: Heather http://www.heathermorton.ca/blog/?p=2091&cpage=1#comment-27644 Heather Wed, 20 May 2009 16:55:21 +0000 http://www.heathermorton.ca/blog/?p=2091#comment-27644 I don't think that Chris Boot (or HMAb) meant to suggest the images themselves are controversial. As per <a href="http://jmcolberg.com/weblog/2009/05/were-all-adults-now.html" rel="nofollow">Conscientious'</a> take on my posting, we've seen these images before. Rather, a curatorial statement that suggests that the gay community might be using photography in a homogeneous way (particularly that all gay photography is sexual explicit) might be offensive and reductive to gay people, photographers who happen to be gay etc. Is Chris Boot objectifying the gay gaze? I'm not sure that this is what Chris meant when he expressed surprise that there wasn't controversy in the gay community but I was very curious about this thesis. Chris, care to comment? I don’t think that Chris Boot (or HMAb) meant to suggest the images themselves are controversial. As per Conscientious’ take on my posting, we’ve seen these images before.

Rather, a curatorial statement that suggests that the gay community might be using photography in a homogeneous way (particularly that all gay photography is sexual explicit) might be offensive and reductive to gay people, photographers who happen to be gay etc. Is Chris Boot objectifying the gay gaze?

I’m not sure that this is what Chris meant when he expressed surprise that there wasn’t controversy in the gay community but I was very curious about this thesis. Chris, care to comment?

]]> By: Chris Clary http://www.heathermorton.ca/blog/?p=2091&cpage=1#comment-27642 Chris Clary Wed, 20 May 2009 16:28:01 +0000 http://www.heathermorton.ca/blog/?p=2091#comment-27642 Thanks Heather and Ronit for covering our pavilion. I wanted to add to the discussion. Why is it that people expect "gay" imagery to be controversial? I think the more interesting point the curator is trying to make is how gay men are using the camera for performance or otherwise. That's what's new and different and potentially shocking. The image is only part of the story. Thanks Heather and Ronit for covering our pavilion. I wanted to add to the discussion. Why is it that people expect “gay” imagery to be controversial? I think the more interesting point the curator is trying to make is how gay men are using the camera for performance or otherwise. That’s what’s new and different and potentially shocking. The image is only part of the story.

]]> By: NYPH09: Controversial Photographers - Heather Morton **NSFW** « Out of the Dark Room http://www.heathermorton.ca/blog/?p=2091&cpage=1#comment-27641 NYPH09: Controversial Photographers - Heather Morton **NSFW** « Out of the Dark Room Wed, 20 May 2009 15:54:53 +0000 http://www.heathermorton.ca/blog/?p=2091#comment-27641 [...] Read the entire article at: Heather Morton Art Buyer [...] [...] Read the entire article at: Heather Morton Art Buyer [...]

]]> By: Anne Maureen McKeating http://www.heathermorton.ca/blog/?p=2091&cpage=1#comment-27633 Anne Maureen McKeating Tue, 19 May 2009 18:59:26 +0000 http://www.heathermorton.ca/blog/?p=2091#comment-27633 I agree with Sean re: Gay Men Play. Snore. The representation was hardly contemporary. Maybe the show's themes resonate with those who's mindset is still trapped on Folsom Street circa 1985. Love Jacob Holdt and am sick with jealousy over the lost opportunity to get a signed copy! I agree with Sean re: Gay Men Play.
Snore.
The representation was hardly contemporary. Maybe the show’s themes resonate with those who’s mindset is still trapped on Folsom Street circa 1985.
Love Jacob Holdt and am sick with jealousy over the lost opportunity to get a signed copy!

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