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Fictions
Anthony Goicolea's third book is an amalgam of photographs and drawings. Though the artist no longer uses himself as a model, he continues to use the motifs of his earlier work. Goicolea s subjects seem to have left their public schoolboy roots behind, and matriculated in an environment which is otherworldly, replete with codes and rituals unfamiliar to the viewer. Often appearing in matching uniforms--everything from red hooded sweatshirts to white underwear--Goicolea's tribe of boys kiss under moonlight, build forts in strange, idyllic environs, Christen each other in shallow pools, and engage in a mischief whose purpose is never quite clear.
188 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2009
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September 19, 2010
The Strange World of Anthony Goicolea
Anthony Goicolea, born 1971, is a Cuban American photographer who lives in Brooklyn, NY whose third book FICTIONS continues his exploration of the vulnerable minds and imaginations and need of puberal boys. The book is an amalgam of photographs and drawings, combining the two media as well as an artist working today. In his previous books he very successfully used himself as his model, creating single and group self portraits that displayed an imagination rich in depth and in the ability to stage stories. Though in FICTIONS Goicolea does not use himself as a model, his approach to photographic composition as changed little. These models are all young men who seem to be captured in the act of obscure rituals, reminding the viewer of the feeling of 'Lord of the Flies'. There are staged baptisms in pools of water, gatherings before fires (each model identically dressed), intimate moments of physical relationships, kissing in the mystery of monlight, creating iconic images together, etc.
What makes Anthony Goicolea's art so magnetic is the element of presentation to the viewer: there is no defined story here, no meaning offered. The tableaux are meant to be explained by the viewer. It is work of this kind that challenges the imagination and requests that we, the viewer, participate in the process of making art. It is up to us to define or complete each image with our perception.
Grady Harp
Anthony Goicolea, born 1971, is a Cuban American photographer who lives in Brooklyn, NY whose third book FICTIONS continues his exploration of the vulnerable minds and imaginations and need of puberal boys. The book is an amalgam of photographs and drawings, combining the two media as well as an artist working today. In his previous books he very successfully used himself as his model, creating single and group self portraits that displayed an imagination rich in depth and in the ability to stage stories. Though in FICTIONS Goicolea does not use himself as a model, his approach to photographic composition as changed little. These models are all young men who seem to be captured in the act of obscure rituals, reminding the viewer of the feeling of 'Lord of the Flies'. There are staged baptisms in pools of water, gatherings before fires (each model identically dressed), intimate moments of physical relationships, kissing in the mystery of monlight, creating iconic images together, etc.
What makes Anthony Goicolea's art so magnetic is the element of presentation to the viewer: there is no defined story here, no meaning offered. The tableaux are meant to be explained by the viewer. It is work of this kind that challenges the imagination and requests that we, the viewer, participate in the process of making art. It is up to us to define or complete each image with our perception.
Grady Harp
Displaying 1 of 1 review