by Gerry Mak in New Photography on Tuesday 8 April 2008

I’ve been obsessed with Joel Peter Witkin’s photographs for a long time now. Witkin is famous for using deformed people, dwarves, hermaphrodites, and cadavers in his eerie, intricately composed photos that draw from religious iconography, Surrealism, and Baroque art. He’s been accused of being exploitative, but I think his pieces are quite beautiful, and he treats his subjects with respect and even reverence. The Nine Inch Nails’ video for Closer was inspired by Witkin’s art.
joel peter witkin
joel peter witkin