Joel-Peter Witkin//

His fascination with other people’s physicality has inspired works that confronts our sense of beauty through people most often cast aside by society, including dwarfs, androgynes, carcases, hermaphrodites, amputees, fetishists and as he states “any living myth … anyone bearing the wounds of Christ.”

There are reference to art history, including the works of Picasso, Balthus, Goya, Velásquez and Miro, creating new history set in the present day. The haunting images, are hideously beautitiful  and as compelling as their taboo.

Joel-Peter Witkin lets us look into his created world, which is both frightening and fascinating, as he seeks to dismantle our preconceived notions about sexuality and physical beauty. Through his imagery, we gain a greater understanding about human difference and tolerance.