Galloping Green

I honestly didn’t know David LaChapelle’s work in any great detail bar a few shots I’d seen in the media and the wife’s magazines.  Before the event, I’d performed the due diligence in browsing the web for his references and works and had thought “Very nice, colourful, very D&G, very glossy and couture-like” but didn’t really give it a second thought. For me, it was an opportunity to see the work of a big name photographer and the hope I’d learn something and come away inspired to try something a little different with my own creative endeavours.

But today I had the opportunity to sit in on a presentation the really changed my perspective.  Courtesy of the folks at Pix.ie, I can heartily say that the afternoon I spent in 1A Burlington Road, Dublin 4 was an astonishing eye opener and a feast of visual cheescake with storytelling worthy of a log fire and toasted marshmallows.

First off, he, David LaChapelle, comes across as the kind of bloke you’d go for a pint with. Down to earth, loving his mum, loving the experience of being in Dublin, loving what he does. He’s clearly passionate about what he does but laments the fact that the nine-to-five jobs we do suck the creativity out of us (one of the main reason he cites for getting out of commercial photography himself) and that perhaps being a waitress or a pump attendant, or some other job with socially-perceived lower value,  is actually the most powerful tonic that pushes us to excellence in our artistic creativity because these jobs don’t destroy the creative mojo from us, but resolve us to get out and do amazing things. Cliched perhaps, but captivating convincing? Absolutely.

His commentary, tag lines and name dropping are delivered with such comfort that this pretense really does take a back seat to the awe of the visual treats being projected on the screen behind him.  This is a guys work that really needs to be looked at, absorbed slowly, and appreciated for the pomposity of colour and visual assault on the eyes. These are not images be dissected for any pretentious hidden meaning.  The nudity is presented for its purity and not, as David himself remarked “To wank over”.  It’s honest and simple visual imagery to to a fault, with a simple story that we can all get, but I think it needs you to hear him talk about the images to understand why this is so.

The messages he seeks to convey in his images are starkly simple, and if you dig to deeply I think you really do miss the point.  He has a childish humour in his presentation that can disarm,and you need to be really careful about your interpretation as you look through his works, and today in particular the set of shots of “The Americans”, which presents aset of starkly anti-Bush monologuea presented in visual opulence with digitally remastered images he purchased for $25 from eBay. Google it, it’s amazing!

As shot after shot appeared on the projected screen, I found myself thinking “Jesus, where did he come up with the idea for that?” or “Holy shit, now that’s a freakin’ brilliant shot!”. And every shot he presented had an otherworldly anecdotal story to explain how it came into existence, but they transcended mere name dropping (and feic, there were names-a-plenty in there) and the subject’s name became a byline to a superb image and composition with colours to make the Wizard of Oz look pale and dull by comparison.

This is a photographer that gets the power of imagery and won’t allow him to be constrained by the norms defined by the popular media. He’s found a place in his life where he can rise above the political correctness and dross of modern media and present something fresh, upbeat and powerful and I for one applaud him. His wealth affords him this opportunity and he doesn’t shy away from saying this himself. This is a guy that shot weddings, travel photography and whatever was needed to allow him to pursue his passion. I certainly don’t begrudge a grafter like LaChapelle for indulging in a visual fantasy he clearly deserves.

His exhibition runs until the end of October and I’d challenge you to leave his gallery without having had the feeling that you’d just been smacked in the face with a delectable sherbert of astonishing fizziness.

Thank  you Pix.ie for the free ticket!