David LaChapelle David LaChapelle was born in 1963 in Fairfield, Connecticut. He is an

acclaimed fashion, commercial, and fine art photographer known for his hyper-

realistic photographs with astute social messages about popular culture, religion, and

history. LaChapelle’s photography career began in the eighties when he began

showing his artwork in galleries around New York. He caught the attention of some of

the worlds most celebrated artists and publications: Andy Warhol, Interview Magazine,

Vanity Fair, French Vogue, Italian Vogue, GQ, Rolling Stone, and I-D. LaChapelle also

branched out and directed numerous music videos, and documentaries.

L a C h a p e l l e p h o t o g r a p h e d a

manifold of popular personalities. His

photographs always projected an image of

twenty-first century pop culture that has

elements of both admiration and criticism.

(Goren, 2011).

Fig.1 depicts rapper Lil’ Kim

featured in a Louis Vuitton advertising

campaign in 2004, shot be LaChapelle.

Here he combines marketing with blatant

criticism. As the Louis Vuitton logo is

imprinted on Kim’s naked body it borders

on straight sales promotion versus, the

Lil’ Kim for Louis Vuitton (2004) [fig.1]

commoditization of the female body. Depicting Kim as a luxury item.

Fig.2 features Courtney Love and a figure who looks like her late husband Kurt

Cobain, portrayed as baby Jesus on her lap. This

photograph illustrates the parallels between faith

and religion, and the adoration of pop culture

icons (depicting Cobain as a godlike figure). The

foreground features a child playing with blocks

that spell “Heaven to Hell”, which corresponds to

Cobain taking his own life; the eternal struggle

between anguish and peace. There are also marks

and wounds on the man’s arm to signify Cobain’s

heroin addiction. LaChapelle proves close

attention to smallest details can demonstrate the

biggest messages.

“Heaven to Hell” (2007) [fig.2]

Bibliography

Day, E, (2012). David LaChapelle: 'Fashion, beauty and glamour are the mark of civilisation'. The Observer, (online). Culture/Art and Design, 1. Available at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2012/feb/19/david-lachapelle-interview-fashion-photography (Accessed 22 November).

Goren, N, (2011). Post on Pop. (online). Available from: http://www.davidlachapelle.com/news/post-on-pop/. (Accessed November 21).

LaChapelle, D, (1999). Hotel LaChapelle. 1st ed. Boston: Bulfinch.

IMAGES

LaChapelle, D (2006). Heaven to Hell. 1st. ed. Köln: Taschen.