Philip-Lorca diCorcia

Rating:
Summary: Realism and Artificiality
Review: In Andy Grundberg's book, Crisis of the Real, he predicts that "the character of photography in the new millennium will be something more overtly fabricated, manipulative, artificial, and self conscious then the photography we have come to know." Interested in this prediction, I have been exploring artists using fiction and theatricality in their work; such as, Philip-Lorca diCorcia, Jeff Wall, Eileen Cowin, and Tiny Barny to name a few. These artists are not only questioning the representational authority of photography but also exploring the extent to which artiface takes part in constructing a narrative. In carefully staged scenes, apparently taken from ordinary, everday life, diCorcia's images originate not so much from experience as from imagination. They seem convincingly real, yet are just enough over the top to remind us of how mediated photography can be. I think this is the type of overt fabrication Grundberg was referring to. diCorcia gives meticulous attention to every detail and has a wonderful sense of composition, particularly with the use of color. Many of his pictures will make you laugh, while others may offer an odd parallel to your own experiences. This is an original book, well worth having to return to as a source of pleasure and inspiration.