Mapplethorpe's Polaroids

The art review that I chose to talk about is Polaroids by Robert Mapplethorpe that are currently exhibited in the Block Museum, Northwestern University until April 5th. These prints show Mapplethorpe learning to see photographically. They are presented in chronological order for the purpose of the viewer able to trace the development of Mapplethorpe’s eye. Mapplethorpe goes into an area where he attempts to do portraits. All of his portraitures are of his friends and or lovers. There is a direct audience to his work, and also to the article I had chose to read about. Mapplethorpe, being a gay artist makes a lot of his work clearly directed toward homosexuals, but also to women and blacks. The author of this piece analyzing this exhibition by exploring his use of polaroids. The author goes into detail on how some of his images represent a strong sexual charge to them, and further explains specific pieces that elaborate on this concept. This body of work is apparently his later works, that have never quite been subject of a public exhibition before. His newer bodies of work has overshadowed these that give a great idea of the photographer’s artistic development. The author does not go into much detail on where the work is being showcased, I had to look that up myself, well I already knew. This exhibition has been advertised on public transportation in Chicago, such as L stops and the L train itself. The author did do a good job on their research. The information that was presented had shown a good background of Mapplethorpe’s lifestyle. This lifestyle s very much so reflected into his work, and I’m sure the author had to look up some information on him in a biography or an autobiography. Looking further into this exhibit has gotten me very interested into seeing it, as I have been contemplating it for quite some time. Looks like I better go soon, seeing as it leaves this April!