You might not know the name, but he created some of the most enduring
images of pop stardom. Anton Corbijn claims to be a "Very, very basic
photographer."
His images have the power of simplicity, and if we believe U2's Bono,
the subject of many Corbijn images, there is something mystical as well.
"Sometimes he can give you a substance you may not have ... but are
working towards," the singer is recorded as saying.
Corbijn's own comments about his work seem to suggest that most of his
photos are almost accidental. If so, he has shown over the years an
uncanny ability to capture elusive pop stars in accidental moments of
self revelation, moments that make them people rather than icons.
The backgrounds of his photos work in Corbijn's favor. They seem totally
mundane but end up saying much, such as the classic 1977 shot of Elvis
Costello in a tiny hotel room in Amsterdam which speaks volumes about
the quality of the man and his music.
His ability to get close to the unapproachable is probably what is most
remarkable, and a shot of Christy Turlington and Naomi Campbell has a
casual ease that is a total contrast to how the "image" of these
supermodels is usually presented. The current exhibition of his works at
the Cherng Pin Gallery at Taipei's flagship Eslite bookstore is full of
big names from Frank Sinatra to Kurt Cobain, John Lee Hooker to Luciano
Pavarotti. Faces everyone has seen, but probably not in the same way
Corbijn has seen them.
Corbijn's photographs will be on show at the Cherng Pin Gallery located
at B2, 245 Tunhua S. Rd., Sec. 1 (敦化路1段245號B2) beginning tomorrow
until Oct. 21.
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