Art Fair highlight: Clifton Henri

[netmouse]

There were quite a few good photographers at this year's Ann Arbor Art fair. Many whose work I might have admired in previous years however now made me cringe with thoughts about cultural appropriation and the question of whether or not the photographer compensated her models or explained to them that she was going to go to the US and sell their images and their culture for $90 or $135 or $300 a print.

(this user icon in fact makes an interesting backdrop to my comments, since behind me is a piece of African artwork my sister gave me many years ago... which I have come to appreciate slightly differently as I come to understand cultural appropriation.)


Happily, this was not true for one artist, who takes pictures closer to home. Clifton Henri also impressed me with the feeling and biography of his pictures in addition to composition.

I particularly liked some of his pictures of kids (titles his).



the me i see



wings



capturing light


See the rest of his portfolio on Clifton Henri's website

Comments

[tshaile.livejournal.com]

His work caught my eye as well. I particularly liked 'wings'. I hadn't seen 'capturing light' though. I may like that better.

[matt-arnold.livejournal.com]

What is cultural appropriation, as you see it?

If I grow dreadlocks or an afro, does that count? Why is that a problem?

Rachel grew up in Japan. I painted kanji characters on Rachel's walls. She has a futon, a japanese-style screen, window dressings purchased from that region, furniture made of wood frames and paper, and bamboo plants. Is that cultural appropriation? If so, why is that a problem?

[ontology101.livejournal.com]

Loved "wings" when I saw it.

[netmouse.livejournal.com]

That was the one that most jumped out at me. I may yet order a print of it.

cultural appropriation

[ontology101.livejournal.com]

some may believe...or have believed...they are informing the world of a particular plight otherwise ignored. We don't know what they do with the profits in all cases. We don't know if the profits are exorbitant in relation to their expenses.

In general I agree with you...I'm just stating the obvious alternatives.

Re: cultural appropriation

[netmouse.livejournal.com]

The pictures i'm thinking of didn't depict any sort of plight. They were richly beautiful landscapes, architecture, portraits, crowd shots, depicting mostly south asian and indian people and terrain, often monks and temples or others in exotic costume or face paint. Very human portraits, but beauty and peace, not any sorts of issues or suffering.

[popelizbet.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I love "wings".