Death / Destruction - Joel-Peter Witkin - The Still Life

Joel-Peter Witkin 

Allison Krenz

Flowers, feathers, monkeys, centaurs, corpses... these are just a few things one sees in a still life by Joel-Peter Witkin. Steeping in art history, Witkin builds scenes that are somewhere between a dream and a nightmare.

Many of us avoid the subject of death. Most of us have a healthy fear of dying, but we choose to avoid the topic because it is something we cannot begin to understand. We can see others die, but until we experience it ourselves, it is up to our imaginations to think of what comes after. What Witkin does is embrace what others choose to turn away from. He looks death in the eye (sometimes quite literally) and then shows us what he sees.

He shoots his elaborate scenes as sketches, carefully choosing which objects are included. He then gathers his supplies and builds his visions into reality. All of his work post-process is done in the dark room. According to his biography published by the Museum of Contemporary Photography, he ages his photos through physical manipulation of the medium. Perhaps it's this aggressive approach to the creative process that makes his images feel so real, even though the imagery is straight from Witkin's imagination.

Witkin currently draws inspiration from the deserts of New Mexico. Much of his symbolism comes from the culture of the South West, and while he still produces work today, much of it feels as old as time itself.