The Scissor Sisters, who opened for Lady Gaga in New York last night, are infatuated with Robert Mapplethorpe — so much so that the band featured his photography on its Night Work album and related single covers and interpreted his imagery in a recent video. An iconic artist, who both shocked and wooed art lovers with his powerful pictures of sensual nudity, unsettling sadomasochism, and obscure objects of desire, Mapplethorpe followed his own creative path, while always maintaining a magical sense of mystery.
Passing away in 1989 from an AIDS-related illness at age 42, Mapplethorpe continues to inspire new generations of artists — due in part to the admirable efforts of his foundation, which has made his art accessible to multiple museum and gallery shows and invited artists Cindy Sherman, Vik Muniz, David Hockney, and others to curate surveys of his work. Now it’s the Scissor Sisters’’ turn, which lead singer Jake Shears takes on with glee — mixing Mapplethorpe’s photos and sculptures with a fascinating group of younger artists that have rightly been influenced by the master of pared-down form and erotic content in a lively show, on view through March 19, at London’s Alison Jacques Gallery.
Click through below for a gallery of images by Mapplethorpe and his followers and a video of the opening of the exhibition.
Robert Mapplethorpe, Lisa Lyon, 1981. Silver gelatin print. 40.6 x 50.8 cm / 16 x 20 in paper size
Robert Mapplethorpe, Ken Moody, 1984. Cibachrome. Paper size: 16 x 20 in / 41 x 51 cm
Scott Treleaven, The Butterfly Net, 2008. Ink, gouache and watercolour on paper, 33.5 x 25.5 cm / 13 1/4 x 10 1/8 in paper size
Robert Mapplethorpe, Skull and Crossbones, 1983. Silver gelatin print, framed. 40.6 x 50.8 cm/16 x 20 in (unframed), 72.2 x 60 cm / 28 3/8 x 23 5/8 in (framed), stamped and signed by the Robert Mapplethorpe Estate. Edition 1/10 1/2 AP
Robert Mapplethorpe, White Gauze, 1984. Stamped and signed by the Robert Mapplethorpe Estate. Silver gelatin print. Paper size: 50.8 x 40.6 cm / 20 x 16 in. Edition 1/10
Neil Gall, Remnant, 2010. Acrylic on bronze. 11.5 x 14 x 12 cm, 4 1/2 x 5 1/2 x 4 3/4 in
Robert Mapplethorpe, Peter Reed, 1980. Silver gelatin print. Paper size: 50.8 x 40.6 cm / 20 x 16 in
Robert Mapplethorpe, Lisa Lyon, 1982. Silver gelatin print. Paper size: 16 x 20 in / 41 x 51 cm
Robert Mapplethorpe, George Bradshaw, 1980. Silver gelatin print. Paper size: 16 x 20 in / 41 x 51 cm
Robert Mapplethorpe, Stars, 1983. Stained wood and shag carpet. Each star 33 x 33 cm / 13 x 13 in. Installation dimensions variable stamped and signed by the Robert Mapplethorpe Estate
Banks Violette, Not Yet Titled (The End Edition), 2005. Steel, light bulbs, electrical wires, assorted hardware. 123.2 x 132.7 x 213.4 cm (approx.), 48 1/2 x 52 1/4 x 84 ins (approx.)
Robert Mapplethorpe, Lisa Lyon, 1980. Silver gelatin print. Paper size: 20 X 16 in / 51 x 41 cm
Robert Mapplethorpe, Amaryllis, 1985. Cibachrome. Paper size: 20 x 24 in / 51 x 61 cm
Robert Mapplethorpe, Phillip Prioleau, 1979. Stamped and signed by the Robert Mapplethorpe Estate. Silver gelatin print. Paper size: 16 x 20 in / 41 x 51 cm. Edition 14/15
Glenn Ligon, Red Portfolio, 1993. Nine silver gelatin prints. Each print: 19.7 x 19.7 cm / 7 3/4 x 7 3/4 in
Robert Mapplethorpe, Gun Blast, 1985. Stamped and signed by the Robert Mapplethorpe Estate. Silver gelatin print. 40.6 x 50.8 cm / 16 x 20 in. Edition 10/10
Marc Swanson, Psychic Studies 2, 182.9 x 198.1 x 5.1 cm, 72 x 78 x 2 in
Robert Mapplethorpe, Patrice, 1977. Printed in 2009. Stamped and signed by the Robert Mapplethorpe Estate. Silver gelatin print. Paper size: 16 x 20 in / 41 x 51 cm