Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures

He was a catalyst and an illuminator, but also a magnet for scandal. From an early age Robert Mapplethorpe had but one goal which he single-mindedly pursued: to ‘make it’ not just as an artist but also as an art celebrity. He could not have picked a better time: it is the Manhattan of Warhol’s Factory, of Studio 54 and, following the Stonewall riots, an era of unbridled hedonistic sexuality. His first solo exhibition in 1976 already unveils his topics: erotic depictions, flowers and portraits. He is gaining notoriety through his series of explicitly sexual photographs from the gay sadomasochistic scene as well as nude pictures of black men. Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, who took part in the Panorama in 2003 and 2005, were given unrestricted access to Mapplethorpe’s archives for their documentary Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures in which this exceptional artist talks candidly about himself in recently discovered interviews. At the same time, the testimonials of friends, lovers, family members, celebrities and models help paint quite a critical picture of this complex key figure of twentieth century photography.

details

  • Runtime

    108 min
  • Country

    United States, Germany
  • Year of Presentation

    2016
  • Year of Production

    2016
  • Director

    Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato
  • Cast

    Robert Mappelthorpe, Edward Mappelthorpe, Fran Lebowitz, Brice Marden
  • Production Company

    Film Manufactures Inc.
  • Berlinale Section

    Panorama
  • Berlinale Category

    Documentary Film

Biography Fenton Bailey

Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato have made a large number of documentaries about icons and celebrities of the gay and lesbian underground.Their documentary INSIDE DEEPTHROAT screened in the Berlinale Panorama in 2005. Several of their films have been presented at theSundance Film Festival, including BECOMING CHAZ in 2011. They won the IDA Pioneer Award in 2014.

Filmography Fenton Bailey

2000 The Eyes of Tammy Faye | 2001 Out of the Closet, off the Screen: The Life of William Haines | 2002 Monica in Black and White | 2003 Party Monster | 2004 Hidden Fuhrer: Debating the Enigma of Hitler's Sexualty

Filmography Randy Barbato

2000 The Eyes of Tammy Faye | 2001 Out of the Closet, off the Screen: The Life of William Haines | 2002 Monica in Black and White | 2003 Party Monster | 2004 Hidden Fuhrer: Debating the Enigma of Hitler's Sexualty | 2019 Stonewall Outloud | 2019 Liberty: Mother of Exiles