By Ali Ikram
One of America’s leading photographers has been capturing life in New Zealand through her lens.
In her time Catherine Opie's subjects have ranged from S and M culture to Elizabeth Taylor's personal possessions.
An exhibition documenting her short stay in New Zealand currently is on at Auckland University, Nightline went along for a peak.
Opie has never been afraid to shock. In America she introduced herself in a S and M mask, with 46 needles in her arms and “pervert” cut into her skin.
As being gay in public became increasingly normal it was her way of resisting the smothering embrace of the mainstream
“It's more about a powerful image, talking about what was going on in identity politics at that time,” she says.
No less arresting are her images of the cityscapes, devoid of life, that reveal her technical brilliance and masterful composition.
In her New Zealand exhibition she displays images that evoke the ever changing face of nature, and our attempts to capture the indefinable and sell to attract tourism.
Earlier this year Opie found herself commissioned to photograph the personal effects of Elizabeth Taylor just before the stars death. She refused to meet the icon, gleaning everything she knew from her belongings.
“I have never worn makeup ever and photographing these lipsticks perfectly lined up…have I completely failed femininity in some way confronted by this overwhelming femininity?”
Her Taylor images will be in one of three books that will be released later this year, as for Opie, she has plans to take it easy sometime next year.
3 News