RECOMMENDED
In this high-energy retrospective of premier French rock photographer Richard Bellia’s twenty-five years of shooting idols from James Brown to Nirvana and beyond, one experiences the (dis)passion of a man who goes for the jugular—the money shot as some say—and captures his subjects in their most exaggerated and iconic moments of their shticks, or enjoying the rewards of rock ’n’ roll fantasy. Only a Frenchman would have dared to snap the shutter behind a groupie in a tight skirt kneeling as she gives a blow job to Stiv Bators of the Dead Boys, who winces with ecstatic pleasure as Joey Ramone stands behind him like a Praetorian guard, with a bottle of beer in his hand rather than a spear. Whether it is Radiohead being hipper than hip or Marilyn Manson mugging as a transgendered ironical monstrosity, Bellia gives us Baudrillard’s hyper-reality on steroids—the simulation is the standard. (Michael Weinstein)
Through March 30 at TH!NKART, 1530 N. Paulina
2 Responses to “Review: Richard Bellia/TH!NKART”
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April 1st, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Michael,
Allow me to say that I have never read anything cooler than this. I am truly honoured.
I will be back in Chicago in May. I hope you’ll be around. Please, contact me.
Again, thank you.
R.B.
http://www.richardbellia.com
April 16th, 2009 at 5:17 am
Following a blockbuster opening at ThinkArt Salon during the first Chicago International Music and Movies festival on March 6th, French rock photographer Richard Bellia is going to be represented by ThinkArt at the Art Chicago international art fair, May 1-4.
The closing party for his retrospective exhibit, “An Eye on Music” featuring selections from his 25 years of rock ’n’ roll photography, will be held at ThinkArt Salon, 1530 N. Paulina, Suite F, Chicago, IL 60622, on Saturday, May 2nd from 7-11 p.m. with Mr. Bellia present.
For more info:
http://www.richardbellia.com
http://www.thinkartsalon.com
http://cimmfest.org