Richard Kern, Upskirts, 2008; inkjet print; 34 x 57″ ed. 3
While photographer Richard Kern has had an unjustly tough row gaining full acceptance in the art world, I can’t say this new show (opening tomorrow at Feature Inc) doesn’t worry me a little. The best of Kern‘s work not only presents a clear portrait of heterosexual male desire, but reveals it to be more complex than just a love for tail. Model Release for example, a collection of his photographs published by Taschen in 2000, demonstrates that the language of porn is flexible enough to capture the erotic in imperfection and individuality. A model’s underwear doesn’t fit perfectly, her breasts aren’t perky, she wears braces; all of these details prove surprisingly sexy.
Given this, it’s hard to understand the rationale for work that seems almost indestinguishable from porn — maybe the booming amatuer market has made hot imperfection seem pervasive and boring — but I’m hoping the exhibition will prove my jpg evaluations wrong. Cliche photographs like Divided Beauty (H&M) however, don’t bode well.
{ 24 comments }
Actually, I dont find it sexy at all. As a VERY virile and heterosexual male, reknowned in basketball circles for his fine black women, I see nothing arousing about this at all. And not pornographic. but like most art these days, its a fetish. Into anorexic girls with no vitality, and underwear. For me, the best underwear is that which comes off the quickest.
This is for voyeurs with sexual performance issues. No hot blooded hetero would be turned on by this at all. Even porno sites would turn away, they got much more agressive works, and far better looking women. Models are waifs these days, belemic and boring. Hetero males are attracted to fertility, youth, vigor, sexuality. I see none. So not really porno. But a sub set of sexually impoverished boys with Napoleon complexes.
Just weird, and certainly not art. Erotic can be great, if handled in a way that strikes more than just the groin region. Sexuality is part of who we are, and a legitimate subject. But not in the hands a of a perv, with performance issues.
Boring, actually.
Art collegia delenda est
donald’s a middle aged white guy who lives in long beach. he’s on his second marriage. this time around he’s married to a much younger black woman. now he thinks he’s a brother.
Actually, I dont find it sexy at all. As a VERY virile and heterosexual male, reknowned in basketball circles for his fine black women, I see nothing arousing about this at all. And not pornographic. but like most art these days, its a fetish. Into anorexic girls with no vitality, and underwear. For me, the best underwear is that which comes off the quickest.
This is for voyeurs with sexual performance issues. No hot blooded hetero would be turned on by this at all. Even porno sites would turn away, they got much more agressive works, and far better looking women. Models are waifs these days, belemic and boring. Hetero males are attracted to fertility, youth, vigor, sexuality. I see none. So not really porno. But a sub set of sexually impoverished boys with Napoleon complexes.
Just weird, and certainly not art. Erotic can be great, if handled in a way that strikes more than just the groin region. Sexuality is part of who we are, and a legitimate subject. But not in the hands a of a perv, with performance issues.
Boring, actually.
Art collegia delenda est
Donald you’re wearing my patience.
Donald you’re wearing my patience.
Sorry, a slow day today. Been swamped for the last two. Just say down boy, as I am housetrained. But what i said is true, from my perspective. Take it as you will.
Sorry, a slow day today. Been swamped for the last two. Just say down boy, as I am housetrained. But what i said is true, from my perspective. Take it as you will.
Premature ejacula, er sorry, reactions? LOL! Sorry I missed that one. Not bad.
Premature ejacula, er sorry, reactions? LOL! Sorry I missed that one. Not bad.
Conventional wisdom—and Art History 101—tells us to consider the POV of the artist, and in the case of Upskirts it’s that of a naughty little boy looking up a lady’s dress. It seems like all of Kern’s work in the Feature show are from this pre-adolescent perspective. Also, it’s hard to look at Upskirts and not be reminded of Courbet’s The Origin of the World, but with a Warholian, soft-core, catalogue bent.
Besides their titles and gallery context, I don’t find much difference between Kern’s photos and stock-imagery for many an “alternative†publications, the sort where images of pretty young women drooling toothpaste, pissing, and affectedly getting their anti-fashion vamp on is just business as usual. If this stuff infuriates and/or titillates, it’s low-level and ubiquitous—which leads me to guess that Kern is well aware of the generic smuttiness of his work, if not its continued marketability, and consequently is as complicit as cake. First-wave feminists have adequately dealt with these kinds of images (which are freighted & fraught), but in the end we’re just recycling banality.
Conventional wisdom—and Art History 101—tells us to consider the POV of the artist, and in the case of Upskirts it’s that of a naughty little boy looking up a lady’s dress. It seems like all of Kern’s work in the Feature show are from this pre-adolescent perspective. Also, it’s hard to look at Upskirts and not be reminded of Courbet’s The Origin of the World, but with a Warholian, soft-core, catalogue bent.
Besides their titles and gallery context, I don’t find much difference between Kern’s photos and stock-imagery for many an “alternative†publications, the sort where images of pretty young women drooling toothpaste, pissing, and affectedly getting their anti-fashion vamp on is just business as usual. If this stuff infuriates and/or titillates, it’s low-level and ubiquitous—which leads me to guess that Kern is well aware of the generic smuttiness of his work, if not its continued marketability, and consequently is as complicit as cake. First-wave feminists have adequately dealt with these kinds of images (which are freighted & fraught), but in the end we’re just recycling banality.
Hasn’t everyone fallen for this enough times already?
Hasn’t everyone fallen for this enough times already?
donald, you are really boring. go away and make more bad art. richard kern is in person, very nice. his work is nothing like it used to be but hey, there are very few people who could so obviously abuse their status as artists to make girls (in this case) take off their clothes and have such pervy photos taken.(larry clark ding ding) I look forward to seeing it though.
Zach- i really like your site
donald, you are really boring. go away and make more bad art. richard kern is in person, very nice. his work is nothing like it used to be but hey, there are very few people who could so obviously abuse their status as artists to make girls (in this case) take off their clothes and have such pervy photos taken.(larry clark ding ding) I look forward to seeing it though.
Zach- i really like your site
Is there a reason for him having 20 images in one? Any symbolism behind that number? Thoughts?
Is there a reason for him having 20 images in one? Any symbolism behind that number? Thoughts?
Sorry baby, took a sojourn from Winkleman I see. Take The Hill back with you, that and ArtForum are the centers for vacuous elucidity. Like that?
Besides, if this guy is gonna do some girls from below, find some with nice thighs and some booty. flat assed, salad tong legged white girls just dont give me that lift I enjoy.
Sorry baby, took a sojourn from Winkleman I see. Take The Hill back with you, that and ArtForum are the centers for vacuous elucidity. Like that?
Besides, if this guy is gonna do some girls from below, find some with nice thighs and some booty. flat assed, salad tong legged white girls just dont give me that lift I enjoy.
Sorry baby, took a sojourn from Winkleman I see. Take The Hill back with you, that and ArtForum are the centers for vacuous elucidity. Like that?
Besides, if this guy is gonna do some girls from below, find some with nice thighs and some booty. flat assed, salad tong legged white girls just dont give me that lift I enjoy.
Sorry baby, took a sojourn from Winkleman I see. Take The Hill back with you, that and ArtForum are the centers for vacuous elucidity. Like that?
Besides, if this guy is gonna do some girls from below, find some with nice thighs and some booty. flat assed, salad tong legged white girls just dont give me that lift I enjoy.
Who is and where the @#$%* is Donald Frazell? Sounds like he may be stealin’ ma name…
Who is and where the @#$%* is Donald Frazell? Sounds like he may be stealin’ ma name…
Who is and where the @#$%* is Donald Frazell? Sounds like he may be stealin’ ma name…
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