particular various black and white flower photographs titled Lily 1977, Calla

Lily 1984, Calla Lily 1986 and Calla Lily 1988. All of these particular images

appeared in the Mapplethorpe exhibition “The Perfect Moment”, which caused

enormous uproar due to the controversial imagery. Employing various methods of

analysis such as psychoanalysis and semiotics I aim to reveal some of the

underlying currents throughout his work. Although these images are not sexually

graphic, they do allude to sex, in particular the male sexual organs.

Mapplethorpe once stated that ‘my approach to photographing a flower is not much

different than photographing a cock. Basically it’s the same thing’ (Celant

1993). This leads me to believe that Mapplethorpe’s social life and sexuality

had an enormous influence on these non-sexually graphic images. In particular

the context in which he presented them to the public was quite erotic itself.

He placed sadomasochism imagery together with these beautiful sensual flower

images, which provoked the correlation between the two types of imagery.

The context of the exhibition in which these photograph

(Foster 1993). Flowers are a natural subject for a photographer whose interest

composition. It’s the same vision”. (Danto 1992). The lighting and composition

the object and revealing the joy was important.

they may indeed be one. The balance in each of these photographs is different

In conclusion the context of this exhibition paved the way for the perception of

enormous impact on how the images were perceived. In fact, it is the context of

Some topics in this essay:
Grand Masturbator, Sometimes Mapplethorpe’s, Perfect Moment”, Duino Elegy, Calla Lily, Robert Mapplethorpe, Salvador Dali’s, ashley 1996, flower images, sexual organs, danto 1992, celant 1993, calla lily, images context, male sexual, images gallery, s&m imagery, male sexual organs, , enormous impact images,