Alair Gomes [Hardcover]

Christian Caujolle (Author), Lauro Cavalcanti (Author), Maria Claudia Coelho (Author), Paulo Herkenhoff (Author)

Book Description

Series: Fondation Cartier Pour L'art Contemporain S. | Publication Date: October 2001

A philosopher, art critic and university professor, Gomes (1921-92) was in his 50s when he began to develop a body of photographic work, focusing almost exclusively on the athletic young men to be found on the beach at Rio de Janeiro. This tireless collector of books, pictures and films, who was murdered at the age of 71, decided to transform the thousands of pages of his diaries into images, thereby composing an immense erotic tableau of black and white photographs devoted to the beauty of the male body. Photographs covertly taken on the beach, or with a telephoto lens from the window of his flat, were extensively reworked and ordered in a sequence according to a rhythm or "visual music", resulting in frescos of outstanding visual scale; for example, his "Symphony of Erotic Icons" or "Sonatinas Four Feet". This group of photographs, now preserved at the National Library of Rio, constitutes one of the most original photographic works of the past few decades.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson (October 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0500974942
• ISBN-13: 978-0500974940
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #841,683 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Strictly Voyeurism of the Male Nude Body", October 18, 2001

By 

Joseph J. Hanssen "Joe" (Upstate New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alair Gomes (Hardcover)

This is a beautifully produced book of Alair Gomes most important images dedicated to the beauty of the male nude body. These pictures he took secretly at Rio de Janeiros beaches & from his Ipanema apartment windows from the 1970s onward. They are black & white images of athletic, young handsome men who were totally unaware they were being photographed. Alair later constructed these photographs in carefully selected sequences according to a rhythm and a visual music. It certainly worked! There are many tri-folds, and fold out pages in this book to show the images in these various sequences. The book includes his own detailed essay about his work, and many essays by other professionals describing Alairs photographic style and his collection of images.

This book is a great opportunity for anyone to learn about this wonderful photographer. Alair Gomes died at the age of 71 when he was murdered in Rio de Janeiro. This book was put out by the Foundation Cartier in Paris as an exhibition catalogue. A great presentation it is. Viewing these photographs he took secretly of these young men makes one feel like a voyeur, like he was. This is a beautiful book for your collection or to give as a gift.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A new classic, November 17, 2001

By 

"tyuro" (Vancouver) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alair Gomes (Hardcover)

When photos by Alair Gomes first appeared in the controversial issue of Vogue Hommes International that also included the spread of spread Bel Ami gay porn stars earlier this year they blew everyone in the gay community out of the water! For the first time the work of this unknown, deceased Brazilian photographer got widespread publication. Now the first ever monograph of his work published to coincide with a major Paris exhibition is finally available. Gomes takes his place beside the greats! His work from the 1970's stands as proud and erect next pantheon of great phtographers of the golden age such as Bob "AMG" Mizer and Bruce "of LA" Mizer. Unlike these American masters who continue to go ignored by the general public, Gomes work has been carefully stored and catalogued by the National Gallery of Brazil. Discover these long hidden gems for yourself. The book is gorgeous, with high production qualities. It would be nice if we had more, but perhaps if it sells well, further volumes of his work will be published.

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very sexy, different from the norm, January 30, 2002

By 

Ian Nicholas (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alair Gomes (Hardcover)

There's something so fascinating about South American men, especially to this native-midwesterner-cum-New-Yorker. The images of men in this book are incredibly sexy -- they reflect a time and a look and a raw sensuality that I think you could only find in a place like Argentina or Brazil. The images are very high-contrast, and seem to be mostly candid shots of men on the beach in Rio. There's no full nudity in this book, but the "tease" is actually much sexier. These men are completely unaware of how gorgeous they are, and that quality makes them smoulder that much more.