Duane Michals

Photo Poche #12

by Photo Poche

Il n’a pas inventé la narration séquentielle en photographie mais c’est lui, sans conteste, qui l’a imposée, qui lui a donné une forme et qui en a chargé le sens. Surimpressions, réflexions, doubles expositions, textes écrits sur l’image, tous ces procédés qu’il utilise avec une extraordinaire aisance l’aident à répéter que “l’important n’est pas l’apparence des choses, mais leur nature philosophique”. Duane Michals occupe une place d’honneur dans la lignée des photographes qui ne surprennent pas le moment mais qui le créent. Introduction de Renaud Camus 14 séquences photographiques et 22 photographies reproduites en duotone.

Genres: Photography, Art, The United States Of America

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

Reviews

[Hákon Gunnarsson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little book is not a “best of” Duane Michals, but rather an over view of his career. The first photos in this book were taken in 1958 and the last ones in the 1980s. The bulk of the book is taken up by photo series, but there are also stand alone photos. This is understandable as Michals is best known for his series.

There are thirteen series in this book, and they range from eroticism to contemplations on life and death, and religion. The pleasures of the glove, Take one and see Mt. Fujiyama, and The young girl's dream all deal with eroticism, while Christ in New York, The fallen angel, The voyage of the spirit after death, Paradise regained deal with religious aspects. I find Christ in New York quite a interesting piece. In it Michals shows Christ in modern New York. On the other end I find The pleasures of the glove an interesting series dealing with sexual fantasies. Things are Queer is probably the series that I find most interesting in the book. In nine photos Michals seems to be contemplating the borders between reality, and fiction.

The oldest photos are from a trip which Michals took in Russia in 1958. These are the least interesting ones in the book. They are rather typical amateur photos. Subjects usually dead center and very static. In a way some of the series are built up like this, with the subjects dead center, but in the series one has the movement between photos to make them interesting. Looking at the stand alone photos I though the portraits of Marcel Duchamp and Pasolini the best shots in the book.

All in all, an interesting, though slightly short, over view of Duane Michals career during these years. By the way, that is Andy Warhol on the cover.

[cherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of photos are captivating, i found myself entranced deeply with this photo book

[Judy Li · Rating 3 out of 5]

it’s dependence on the written work that almost make them seem lazy.

[Alfonso de Castro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un buen resumen del trabajo de este gran fotógrafo a un precio muy asequible.