Lincoln Clarkes
I was more drawn to Clarkes by the subject, then himself. I thought it wise to understand my once heroin induced lifestyle, to look at the past. Clarkes offered myself a lens far removed from my experience. There is a sheer rawness I am drawn to in the photos.
Clarkes has been said to be voyeuristic, and almost intrusive. I think his photographs are both of those, but that does not make the photographs bad. Just controversial. In the sense they are voyeuristic, it is interesting to find them at this late age 22. I feel most of my generation has a type of voyeuristic addiction. To social media, ect. So on their release in the late 80s and so fourth I can see how that could be controversial. Then compared to todays very documented nature, these photographs I believe are pure gems.
Even the looks of the pills creates a story within people of those communities. I mean to say yes, drug communities. Yet, these pills change over the years, which I feel Clarkes was aware. Those pills will soon someday change, into a maybe more "digestible" formula. Or that of something easier to market. This picture of the pills reminds me of one time I witness folks abusing expired ritalin from the 80s.
These pills were piss yellow, and had a story of their own. There exist a sheer relevancy in this work. and one that I feel is not exclusive. The gritty details of these photographs act as some cathedral painting. Where every aspect of the painting has a meaning or a story. The gritty nails from drug use, and the sheer wear of the body becomes close to that of the number of lashings painted on Jesus. These details are chosen by the artist. Or that one that is holding the lens.
I must also note the immortal nature that Clarkes has blessed some of the women. There happened to be many disappearances of some of the women who had their picture taken. Some of them even killed by the same murderer. In many ways there is a judicial or democratic process for how portraits are accessed. Is she an object? Can I make her an object? I feel Clarkes puts these questions aside for matters of pure urgency. Sometimes this world moves a little to fast to ask questions.
Hi Elliot! These photographs are definitely intense, but have that "rawness" to them you had mentioned. They are photos that are real, uncut situations. I think Clarkes brings to light a topic that many people in America like to sweep under the rug or don't care about drug addicts. It is for me a difficult series to look at, but it's something that happens everyday in the city that just gets ignored. However, their definitely remains artistic and visually appealing qualities to his photos. The ones in black and white have an innocent quality to them. He was able to capture individuals in a humanistic light, despite how society casts them. These photos are very unified in that they are balanced, they're not too top heavy or too bottom heavy. The third image from the bottom is my favorite. I think he caught this woman in a beautiful light; it's a great portrait and example of shallow DOF. And like you stated, I think she is immortalized now through this photo. I also have to say that your research on him is very powerful and well written, it brings the photographs that much more meaning. Great job, and enjoy the rest of your summer.
ReplyDeleteHey Elliott,
ReplyDeleteGreat work and thank you for adding your own perspective to Clarkes's work that definitely shaped my experience of viewing these images. It is really funny in an odd sense how jaded our society has gotten and when I first scrolled over these photos I thought nothing too controversial about them, but then learning they were controversial in the 80s was interesting. Just goes to show how quickly societies change in even 30 years. I find his black and white photos more impactful, yet I enjoy how he uses color in the color photos. I am not exactly sure why, but my favorite of the ten images you selected would have to be the one of the three girls on the stoop. There is something about their expressions and interactions/ relations to one another that is so haunting and so mysterious.
Congrats on finishing this course and great research paper!
great work this photographer is so interesting an you really grasped her views. They are super intense and really cool to look at. I find all the images you chose very interesting. Thanks for showing us this photographer i probably would had never looked at her and its really cool
ReplyDeleteHi Elliot! I really like the raw perspective of all of these images. Clarke really captures the grittiness of urban life and the diversity amongst the people living there. I love the low DOF in the image with the blue pills in the hand are the larger DOFs that capture the busy city in the background. Great research!
ReplyDeleteHi Elliot,
ReplyDeleteThese are some really intense photos that delve deep into the life of cities. They pull back the glamour and show the raw inside of what a lot of us turn from. Clarke did a disturbingly amazing job in making people look instead of turn away at the people of his photos. Each one is very confrontational and grabs the attention of the viewer because of that. Like you mentioned, these pictures do seem like he was being a bit intrusive when he was taking the photos, especially the eighth photo. The three women don't seem like they volunteered to have they photo taken, they mostly look annoyed. But they also have these expressions that say they are too tired or don't even feel like bothering to stop this guy taking pictures of them without permission. All of these pictures are really strong photos that make the viewer see the world that Clarke wanted the rest of the world to see. You made a great choice in your research project, and did a great job in completing it.