Andres Serrano’s New Photography Subject: Sh*t


Andres
Apologies in advance for the crude nature of this post, but I must admit I have a fascination for controversial photographers. Perhaps it’s because they take risks and don’t care what people think, as long as the people are thinking…

Curiously, Serrano was raised a strict Roman Catholic in a half Honduran, half Afro-Cuban household. Infamous for his “Piss Christ”, Andres Serrano has covered non-conventional subjects ranging from sex and death to the Klu Klux Klan. For his latest work, Serrano aims his lens at “SHIT”… yes, that’s right, feces.

From the this.heart’s.on.fire blog:
“Although the theme is considered taboo, excrement has a discernable documentation in the history of art. In 1961 Piero Manzoni’s unveiled his Merda d’Artista metal cans that supposedly contained the artist’s stool, priced according to weight. Karen Finley smeared herself with symbolic feces and even Andy Warhol was quoted in the National Review saying that he would like to market his own excrement as jewelry (he felt it was merely a matter of tasteful packaging).”

Well, ummmm… I can’t tell if it’s animal or human crap or what, but somehow the photos are kinda pretty as closeups of the dung are set amongst candy-colored, blurred backgrounds.

SPEAK OUT: What do you think? Is Andres Serrano’s latest work just another notch on his belt for shock value?

PHOTO: Portrait of the artist, Copyright Irina Movmyga

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