For almost 25 years, William Wegman has been producing photographs with the 20 x 24" Polaroid camera. This body of work began in 1979, when Wegman - already well known in the art world for his wry video and conceptual photographic work - was invited by Polaroid to try out this unusual camera. When Wegman and his dog, Man Ray, travelled to Boston to use the camera for the first time, a remarkable collaboration was launched. After Man Ray died in 1982, Wegman continued his exploration of the medium with non-canine subjects. In the late 1980s, he began to work with the dog Fay Ray and an expanding universe of her progeny. William Wegman captures his canine subjects in a variety of poses and guises. This volume gathers together a collection of his work and includes a candid essay by the artist exploring his experiences with the large-format camera and his models.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Although Wegman's artistic output includes photography and video work that doesn't feature canines, "by the mid-Seventies," he wryly notes, "I had become the guy with the dog." The dog was Man Ray, a weimaraner with a movie star's instinct for the spotlight. Using a 1978 20x24 Polaroid camera, Wegman captured his beloved dog on film; for more than 20 years now, Wegman has continued to experiment with the camera, immortalizing his next weimaraner, Fay Ray, and a long line of her progeny. Though the collection contains a few portraits of people, next to the expressive and enigmatic canine tableaux, Wegman's human compositions are pale and unengaging-less human, in fact, than the dog photographs. In Rouge (1982), one of the last portraits of Man Ray, the ailing dog's eyes shine with wisdom and melancholy. In contrast, 1982's Eau II, a portrait of a glammed-up woman with a bloody nose and a Chanel bottle, seems cold and dated (or in the vein of a knock-off Cindy Sherman). It is when Wegman, refraining from indulging his latter-day fascination with prop and costume anthropomorphism, focuses on the dogs themselves-whether on their musculature, their sleek taupe coats or the graceful incline of their brows-that his photographs take on a life of their own and become truly beautiful.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
There's no shortage of opportunities to see photographer Wegman's work, with numerous books currently in print, together with a minor industry producing notecards, calendars, and T-shirts; his dog photographs may be some of the best-known images of any contemporary artist. This title showcases Wegman's efforts with the Polaroid 20 24 camera, although it is an open question as to whether the book's concept merits the publication of yet another Wegman title. Still, it is beautifully produced, with many color illustrations (almost all of his pet Weimaraners), foldouts, and a lively, easygoing text by Wegman, who studied art in the early 1970s when Conceptualism was at its most robust. His style developed out of the philosophical, questing strategies employed by Conceptual artists, and, while one can find echoes of those strategies here, absent is the searching, intellectual honesty that characterizes the best Conceptual art. Wegman's work is undeniably charming, often amusing, and occasionally quite moving. Given the exposure he has, however, libraries with limited budgets might consider purchasing books about lesser-known contemporary artists influenced by Conceptualism or one of several titles currently in print discussing the achievements of Conceptual art. For collections already possessing large holdings in art and photography.
Michael Dashkin, PricewaterhouseCoopers, New York
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Michael Dashkin, PricewaterhouseCoopers, New York
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
wegman yet again,
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This review is from: William Wegman Polaroids (Hardcover)
Yes Wegman has many books about his dogs but this one is unlike most others, the 20X24 camera and what it can achieve is amazing. Wegman uses this camera to its fullest capturing his dogs in many amazing lights. A Wegman book all should own.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Weims,
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Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: William Wegman Polaroids (Hardcover)
If you have a Weim or just fancy their adorable face you have to get a copy of the book. The photos are wonderful. Great coffee table piece.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exceptional!,
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: William Wegman Polaroids (Paperback)
In my opinion this is exceptional photography book. Fay Ray is the best model ever;-)
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