The Salgado Lens
Sebastiao Salgado: ethical practitioner with a noble cause? contributor to the romanticization of the MST in the global justice movement? how fares his stake in that tricky power relationship between rich and poor?
The words ‘authenticity’, ‘consent’, ‘fetishization’ and ‘representation’ come to mind, particularly when I spied an ad for his work at this commercial gallery.
the words “write” “about” “proper” “english” “topics” and “notthisundevelopedworldshit” spring to mind.
Comment by someone who's not martine. oh no no. probably adrian. yeah. sounds like something he'd write. or gratton. except he never comments on anyone's blog. — 8/16/2005 @ 10:39 pm
The words “not” “in” “my” “name” spring to mind.
Though, having said that, I share the sentiment of anonymous, so I shall stop here.
Comment by Adrian — 8/17/2005 @ 7:19 am
Well, I knew what you were talking about Ann. Though I’m not very familiar with Salgado’s works we had a couple of his ‘workers’ photos on the walls at the lab. I never gave them a lot of thought (probably because I associated them with my boss’s taste and hence shied away from them). But there was one that was interesting. It had one man standing just off centre leaning against a wooden post in a crucifixion-like stance, surrounded by workers going about their salt-of-the-earth business. Lots of classically draped rags for clothes and that look of glossy dirt that he seems to like. ‘Authenticity’ and ‘fetishization’ has given me food for thought…but I’ll leave any further analysis to you my socio-arty bee!
Don’t worry about the plebs. Matrine thinks a flow-chart of Oliver Reed’s alcohol swamped life is artistic.
Comment by karenski — 8/17/2005 @ 11:43 am
yeah that picture was in my room at sleep study (i believe bobby derrida had that classy ‘breakfast in bed’ one)
oliver reed is more of an artist than a brazilian will ever be. don’t knock him.
Comment by martirnre — 8/17/2005 @ 1:41 pm
Yeh, I think Brazilians are overrated. Ronaldo, Ayrton Senna and Jean Charles de Menezes are a few cases in point.
Comment by Adrian — 8/18/2005 @ 2:33 am
Adrian, how on earth can you justify saying Ayrton Senna is/was overrated?
Anyone who has seen the first lap of the ‘93 Donnington race says otherwise.
Comment by Mr Frasco Man the Argumentative Pirate — 8/18/2005 @ 9:27 am
Was that the race where he banged into the wall? I think that was pretty good - probably the best thing he did. At least they didn’t blame the London Met for that one!
Comment by Adrian — 8/18/2005 @ 10:49 pm
If you’re referring to his death, then I don’t think there’s any point in continuing such a discussion without stooping to your level.
And to think I was ready for an interesting discussion.
Sorry to digress..
Comment by Mr Frasco Man the Argumentative Pirate — 8/19/2005 @ 1:40 pm
ann! what’s with your argumentative friends??? where’s mr anonymous to blunder on in in to bag out the london met???
Comment by matrine — 8/19/2005 @ 1:50 pm
Sorry. Normally someone just has to breathe the Donnington Race to get me excited (ladies - take note!), but on this occasion I guess I was just looking for cheap entertainment (though I always thought the way he just went bang straight into the wall was interesting).
Comment by Adrian — 8/19/2005 @ 3:59 pm