Infra: Photographs by Richard Mosse

by Richard Mosse (Photographer), Adam Hochschild

Infra, Richard Mosse's first book, offers a radical rethinking of how to depict a conflict as complex and intractable as that of the ongoing war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mosse photographs both the rich topography, inscribed with the traces of conflicting interests, as well as rebel groups of constantly shifting allegiances at war with the Congolese national army (itself a patchwork of recently integrated warlords and their militias). For centuries, the Congo has repeatedly compelled and defied the western imagination. Mosse brings to this subject the use of a discontinued aerial surveillance film, a type of color infrared film called Kodak Aerochrome. The film, originally developed for military reconnaissance, registers an invisible spectrum of infrared light, rendering the green landscape in vivid hues of lavender, crimson and hot pink. The results offer a fevered inflation of the traditional reportage document, underlining the growing tension between art, fiction and photojournalism. Mosse's work highlights the ineffable nature of current events in today's Congo. Infra initiates a dialogue with photography that begins as an intoxicating meditation on a broken genre, but ends as a haunting elegy for a vividly beautiful land touched by unspeakable tragedy.
Following studies at the London Consortium and Goldsmiths College in London, Richard Mosse (born 1980) graduated from the Yale School of Art. He was awarded the Leonore Annenberg Fellowship in 2008 and the Guggenheim Fellowship in 2011. His work has been featured on the pages of Aperture, Artforum, Art in America, Frieze and Modern Painters.

Genres: Photography

136 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is pretty haunting and incredible. I prefer this to his newer work which seems more grounded in the technical appearances -- this works seems like an amazing convergence of technique and vision.

[Jeff Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Congolese warscapes transformed into Tarkovskian interzones. Infra-red film used to reveal psychedelic overtones in familiar scenes. Horror as ravishing iridescent beauty. Mosse wants to wrench open your eyes and see Africa as if for the first time.

[Brett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surreal photos of conflict and landscape in Congo using color infra red film.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful.