Junk for Code

Helmut Newton: remembered

The news is carrying reports that Helmut Newton is dead. He died from a heart attack whilst driving.

His work has appeared on junk for code here and here and here and here. Quite a lot in fact. There has also been a discussion of Newton's work in relation to Bataille over at philosophical conversations for those interested in such things.

Newton was primarily a fashion photographer. with a strong graphic sensibility:

Paris Vogue, August , 1978

But he was an interesting fashion photographer. Consider this shot from Paris Vogue, March 1979:

That turns things around, does it not?

Newton explored the nexus between power, gender roles and sexuality in his fashion photography, as in this 1975 shot for Yves St Laurent:

and in this shot:

ParisVogue, March, 1979

Newton turned high fashion into a form of erotica.

In exposing the way sexuality is transformed into power Newton transgressed the beyond the boundaries of fashion photography,

Posted by Gary Sauer-Thompson at January 25, 2004 05:02 AM | TrackBack