Chronicling the life and work of one of the 20th century’s most controversial artists, Mapplethorpe: Look AtThe Pictures is the first biopic on the artist since his AIDS related death in 1989.
Famed for his honest and controversial sexually explicit photographs, which depicted everything from bodybuilders to BDSM, Mapplethorpe is credited with pushing contemporary photography into the realm of fine art. The feature length documentary will coincide with two major retrospectives at The J. Paul Getty Museum and The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, which will open next year.
“Even his most shocking and forbidden images are included without blurs, without snickers,” explain filmmakers Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, “ in other words, exactly as the artist intended”. As well as never before seen photographs and film footage, the documentary which airs on HBO in April, will include interviews with the likes of Brooke Shields, Fran Lebovitz, Debbie Harry and his siblings.
Words: Chandni Guram – @Chandni_Guram
