“Accidental Gunshot Wound”, image courtesy of Luhring Augustine
Tulsa native Larry Clark has been a busy man over the last few weeks. The artistic director has two US exhibitions opening this month alone. The first is a series of photographs being shown in New York, followed by a retrospective opening this Saturday in LA. Last week marked the launch of New York’s “More than a Muse”, which will only run until this Sunday. There, Larry Clark shows alongside Ryan McGinley, taboo-breaking photographer Sandy Kim and the king of Polaroid, Dash Snow.
“Jack & Lynn Johnson” by Larry Clark, image courtesy of Luhring Augustine
A particularity of the exhibition is that it gives both the photographer and the muse equal importance. The idea is to display a mutual significance, and to disassociate the muse from existing as a mere subject. Among Clark’s collection of images, there are a notable few featuring his long-term friend and focus, Jonathan Velasquez – a man who starred in Clark’s 2005 film “Wassup Rockers”, modelled for his Supreme campaign and was also featured in the “Los Angeles 2003 – 2006” exhibition.
With Velasquez serving as the artistic director’s main creative inspiration, it is to be expected that even more images of him will appear in Clark’s second show with United Talent Agency. Opening on 17 September, it marks the creative’s first solo show in LA since 2000. Fifty pieces will be on display and the exhibition is expected to cover all aspects of Clark’s work.
“Knoxville (homage to Brad Renfro)”, image courtesy of Luhring Augustine
His 2014 “Heroin” painting series (on which the artist allegedly embedded small plastic bags used for storing drugs) are rumoured to be present. And these will feature alongside his well-known photographs and collages of young Hollywood stars like Brad Renfro and Corey Haim. In addition, thw show also features the rarely shown 16mm short film entitled “Tulsa” as well as a few never-before-seen photographs.
“Heroin 6”, image courtesy of Luhring Augustine
Larry Clark’s retrospective opens at United Talent Agency, 670 South Anderson Street, Los Angeles, on 17 September 2016