I was talking about photographers with someone at the weekend and was surprised they hadn't heard of Andres Serrano. His book 'America', a massive collection of his many difficult and distressing series, used to be available for just five to ten pounds from American Amazon marketplace sellers - the book was remaindered quite a lot there and slated by many politicians on the right (after 'Piss Christ' became notorious - recently destroyed in a gallery in France). He is probably one of the most important photographers in the last 25 years. And after looking through the book again in the last day or two maybe he is the one who for me laid it on the line and the result means the most - even if some of it is too overwhelming for me, as well.
He often challenged himself to do projects that meant he had to face his personal fears. As a black photographer he surprisingly chose to make portraits of members of the Ku Klux Klan, for instance. He also made images in a morgue. It was actually one of these photographs that first drew me to his work and which impacted me as much as any painting dealing with mortality ever could. Maybe more so.
He often challenged himself to do projects that meant he had to face his personal fears. As a black photographer he surprisingly chose to make portraits of members of the Ku Klux Klan, for instance. He also made images in a morgue. It was actually one of these photographs that first drew me to his work and which impacted me as much as any painting dealing with mortality ever could. Maybe more so.
