Sally Mann

Back to life. Final major project is over, for good. Room hunting in London at the moment and actually wondering what it's worst. On a break of the room search I went to the Photographers Gallery (they are closing down at the end of september until autumn 2011).

Sally Mann is exhibiting there a great variety of her work. The first time I viewed her work, like three years ago, I was really amazed by this photography (which is showing there).

It's even more impressive when you discovered that those little angels in their pics are actually her three children (now adults). She documented her children's childhood in a series of mysterious, caring and erotic photographs that shocked American conservative society back in the early Nineties. The series, Immediate Family (1984-1994) are her most celebrated work. In what it's her first solo UK exhibition she also shows pics from her collection Faces, another great collaboration mother/children. It's the first series the visitor sees when coming into the exhibition room.



Those photographs are ethereal, unfocused, with an unavoidable vibe of unfinished, yet close to perfection, work. They are very different to the following Immediate Family, her most successful work to date.

Deep South (96/98) features significant places from the American civil war. Highly nostalgic and sentimental, black and white/sepia, like this example of a wound on a tree's trunk, these are probably her most evocative work.

What Remains (2000-2004) is her most recent series featured in this exhibition. It shows decomposing bodies going back to the land. Not suitable for those very sensitive, the portraits still prove that beauty can be found anywhere.

On until the 19th of September and free, make sure you don't miss it if you are around!

Vuelta a la vida. El proyecto final de master acabado, y la b�squeda de habitaci�n en Londres apenas comenzada. Me pregunto qu� es peor, si estar encerrado en tu habitaci�n escribiendo 24/7, o estar por las calles buscando una habitaci�n para estar en el futuro encerrado escribiendo. No s� qu� ser� peor. Afortunadamente mientras buscaba me pas� por la Photographers Gallery (que cerrar�n a finales de septiembre hasta el oto�o de 2011).

Sally Mann est� exponiendo (hasta el 19 de septiembre) una gran variedad de sus trabajos en lo que es su primera exposici�n solitaria en el Reino Unido. A�n recuerdo la primera vez que vi su trabajo, hace tres a�os, y lo mucho que me llam� la atenci�n la primera de las fotos.

Es incluso m�s impresionante cuando descubres que esos peque�os angelitos de las fotos son sus tres hijos (ahora adultos). Mann document� la infancia de sus hijos y el paso de los mismos a la adolescencia en Immediate Family (1984-1994) su trabajo m�s celebrado hasta la �poca. Sus series Faces son las que abren la exposici�n, y significan otra perfecta colaboraci�n entre madre/hijos, aunque mucho m�s et�rea y a la vez realista que Immediate Family.

Deep South (96/98) supone una serie de retratos de lugares que fueron significantes durante la guerra civil americana. O ni siquiera significantes. Simplemente lugares que fueron tristes testigos de aquella guerra.

What Remains (2000-2004) es su trabajo m�s reciente expuesto en la Photographers' Gallery londinense. Muestra cuerpos en proceso de descomposici�n y volviendo de nuevo a la tierra. Un trabajo que provocar� arcadas a los ojos m�s sensibles, pero que a la vez demuestra que se puede encontrar belleza en cualquier sitio.

Si est�s por Londres antes del 19 de septiembre, aseg�rate de no perderte la exposici�n.