%C2%A9 Robert Mapplethorpe %2F The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation
Carnations, 1984
Robert Mapplethorpeexpand_more
Gelatin silver printexpand_more
Gift of Martin Weinsteinexpand_more 2018.75.2
Not on Viewexpand_more
This three-part series of images, or “triptych,” depicts a drama in three acts: a vase suspended by unseen forces above an indefinite surface gains a bouquet of dark, fluffy carnations that, in the final frame, appear to be growing only larger atop the screw-like vase. The surreal qualities of this series render the otherwise innocuous flowers as something vaguely sinister, possessed of darker powers that enable their growth even after being cut. Beauty and death are therefore conjoined to powerful effect in Mapplethorpe’s series, rendering these otherwise ordinary objects as things of existential exploration.
Details
- Title
- Carnations
- Artist Life
- 1946 - 1989
- Role
- Photographer
- Accession Number
- 2018.75.2
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know
© Robert Mapplethorpe / The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation