Dawoud Bey and Carrie Mae Weems in Conversation
Dawoud Bey’s Interest in Photography and Portraiture from Aperture Foundation on Vimeo.
In February 2008, Dawoud Bey and Carrie Mae Weems discussed the work from Bey’s acclaimed book and exhibition, Class Pictures, on view at the time at Aperture Gallery.
Class Pictures features Bey’s striking, large-scale color portraits of students at high schools across the United States. Depicting teenagers from a wide economic, social, and ethnic spectrum—and intensely attentive to their poses and gestures—he has created a highly diverse group portrait of a generation that challenges teenage stereotypes. After several stops including New York, Houston, Indianapolis, and Baltimore, this successful exhibition will open at the Milwaukee Museum of Art, April 16, 2009.
In this excerpt from the talk, Dawoud Bey explains how he decided to become a photographer, speaks about his first significant picture as well as his approach to portraiture through his Harlem series.
Watch a longer cut of the talk here.
Tags: Carrie Mae Weems, Class Pictures, Dawoud Bey
