LOOKER;

by Richard Kern

If the model is the exhibitionist, then I am the voyeur.—Richard KernRichard Kern is a post-modernist punk photographer who has worked in New York city rock music and “No Wave” art circles since the 1970s. In Looker , through a series of carefully constructed vignettes, Kern’s models proceed through their daily private lives, seemingly unaware of the camera. Or are they wittingly playing into the obvious cinematic intrigue? The balance of control present in each frame is a powerful and sensual statement.Looker is thought-provoking in its gentle nature, pastoral tones, and caring reflection of private innocence—but it is also freshly and stunningly erotic, silently exuberant in its portrayal of intimacy and abandon. Richard Kern’s photographs are a peek into a world of mystery and eroticism.

Genres: Photography, Art

240 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2008

Reviews

[Tosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is something slightly ...... no not slightly, it's smuty work. I hate to admit this but I find this book a total turn-on. I like the girls in the book, and I like the whole voyeur aspect of it all. Overall ladies and gentlemen, I am really bad.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

The girls are nicely real. The photography is competent, though not inspired. My main complaints are the fuzziness of many of the photos---yes, yes, I know that's supposedly adding to the "voyeur" aspect, but I find such tricks to be just that---tricks---and I have little time for them, and I'm additionally bothered by how often the voyeur aspect, which is the book's stated them, is discarded. It happens when the girls are obviously aware of the camera, and it happens when the girls are obviously caught "unawares" in very posed fashion, and it happens when the photographs are taken from positions where the girls simply have to be aware of the camera.

That said, kudos to Kern for taking photographs of women. And I mean women, not just mascara-immersed fembots masquerading as women, but real and thoughtful individuals.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It seems like Kern's style has morphed slightly from "unconventional" NY girls acting aggro in small apartments to "unconventional" girls frolicking in slightly nicer apartments and, gasp, nature.
I remember ordering a VHS tape of Kern films in 1990 (I know that sounds like a line from an LCD Soundsystem song) and really digging the spazzy shock value. There's still a little shock in Kern's work, but it has become stylized in a way that will give him a larger audience. Also--check out Kern's show on the Vice TV web site.

[Scoobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is pretty rad.

The only reason it gets 5 stars instead of 2 or 3 is the insert/sleeve/ whatever its called/ voyeur upskirt pictures.

i would line my bedroom/bathroom/kitchen with the stuff.

[H · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found myself quite bored by this; titillating voyeurism this was not.