DATE: 2/7/2011 | BY CORY REYNOLDS
Early last month, noted American photographer Philip-Lorca diCorcia traveled to Bologna to go on press with Andrea Albertini, publisher of the Damiani imprint, and Dennis Freedman, editor of the new Freedman Damiani imprint, to oversee the printing of Eleven, diCorcia's highly anticipated book of photographs realized for W magazine while Freedman (now the creative director of Barneys New York) was creative director.
In celebration of diCorcia's genre-redefining work, and coinciding with New York Fashion Week, photographs from this series will be on view at David Zwirner from February 10 through March 5. DiCorcia will sign copies of the book at Zwirner Gallery (519 West 19th Street, between 10th and 11th) on Saturday, February 12, 4-6PM.
Andrea Albertini, Philip-Lorca diCorcia and Dennis Freedman on press at Damiani.
DiCorcia and Freedman traveled the world together to produce the photo essays reproduced in the book. Above, diCorcia reviews images from the
Los Angeles series.
DiCorcia used both professional models and passersby to create richly loaded narratives in the fashion work. In his conversation with book contributor Jeff Rian, he says, "Fashion shares with tourism an emphasis on surface. You're not supposed to see the underside. I tried to show both the visible and the psychological sides of a place--the official version and the hidden twin, which we dressed up to seem normal. Our shoots were like a tour bus lost in Dystopia. Most of
W's advertiser's would not recognize that world. For a while we got away with it."
DiCorcia's work in fashion photography has never been exhibited or collected in book form until this time.
Freedman and diCorcia worked together at
W from 1997 to 2008. DiCorcia credits Freedman with acknowledging that his photographs often imply elliptical narratives that ask more questions than they answer.
Freedman, diCorcia and Albertini pause on press.