Just remeber, they're only mortals

  • 2005-06-01
  • By Lydia Ernstsons
RIGA - If you heard about a celebrity get-together, comprising some of the world's most famous stars - Johnny Depp, Nicholas Cage, U2, Kurt Cobain, Bjork and others - held right here in Old Riga, would you go? I, for one, would jump at the chance.

Unfortunately, the existence of such a party remains a fantasy, but Riga's State Museum is offering possibly the next best thing at its Arsenals exhibition hall.

While a visit from those stars would no doubt set off more pandemonium in Latvia than the arrival of U.S. President Bush, a photo exhibit capturing their faces on life-sized prints has caused its own wave of excitement. Anton Corbijn's exhibition "Mortals" includes some 140 of his best photographs. Staring eye-to-eye with his print of Liv Tyler, you might believe she's actually the real thing.

Born in 1955 in Holland, Corbijn is one of the most recognized portrait photographers in the world. Latvians most likely know Corbijn's work from his portraits of Brainstorm. In his exhibition, he aims to show celebrities "without their usual attributes of power... interiorly naked humans as ordinary mortals." Working with today's most infamous faces, Corbijn captures them as serious people veiled behind quiet moments. His subjects seem completely removed from their high-powered stage personas.

Bearing this in mind, I went, eager for a glimpse of the rich and famous. I was struck by the solemnity of Corbijn's portraits. Many photos reminded me of "America's Most Wanted" - the angle, coloring and grimness of their expressions created a criminal feeling to the art.

Undeniably interesting were the Blue Works, large blown-up photos resembling posters. Corbijn's goal to portray artists as if they were in movie stills is truly effective. His self-portraits, where Corbijn dresses up as the stars themselves, are especially quirky. The depictions of Corbijn as Orbison, Bolan, Marley and Hendrix confuse you, and then make you chuckle.

As far as the claim that Corbijn portrays these icons in a more human way, well, that depends on your own interpretation. Personally, I found the photo of Irish group Clannad kindred to Edward Munch's painting "Scream." An anorexic David Bowie is shot wearing a sheet for underpants. Kylie Minogue is captured in a transparent corset, and Liv Tyler in a PVC brassiere and blonde wig. Wonderbra model Eva Herzegovina lies naked, struggling under an animal rug. The photograph seemed totally surreal. If it's Eva's more human side, I'm a little scared. When I think "mortal," I imagine Eva walking her dog or brushing her teeth. But then again, I'm not a star.

Anton Corbijn's Mortals

May 29- July 3

Exhibition Hall Arsenals

1 Torna iela, Old Riga