David LaChapelle: World Tour Exhibition

What a Perfect Day to take in the Asian Premiere of David LaChapelle's World Tour Solo Exhibition at Taipei's MOCA on Wednesday April 28th - after all, Wednesday is always dubbed as a HUMP DAY - and the exhibition was oozing with so much SEX APPEAL.... from the naked sexy images.... to the star/celebrity power (Courtney Love reenacting the Pieta; Michael Jackson as Archangel Michael; Madonna as Hindu Goddesses; Leonardo DiCaprio channeling Marlon Brando; Paris Hilton as Herself; etc..).... right down to the VIVID colors of each and every frame exhibited.

Though a lot of the photographs on display I have seen in various fashion and celebrity magazines over the years, such as VOGUE (just about every single International Editions), Vanity Fair, GQ, Rolling Stone, etc.... - it is sooooo wonderful to have a large collections of them in one place..... to be able to take them in in a much bigger version and in a place where one can truly step back and admire the intensity and vividness of each one.... some of his more famous subjects -- from the world of music, movies, television, fashion, and tabloids -- were on display: Madonna, Naomi Campbell, Amanda Lepore, Lady Gaga, Pamela Anderson, Uma Thurman, Paris Hilton, Lil Kim, just to name a few... some of these celebrity shots I have seen in magazines at one time or another, not even knowing it was shot by Mr LaChapelle - but seeing them here, one can see that they just scream: "BY David LaChapelle!!!"... a section was even devoted with in showing on continuous loop, some of the music videos he has directed ("Everytime" by Britney Spears, "It's My Life" by No Doubt, etc...) just as Powerful, colorful, fun and thought provoking as his photographs...

A FAVE Piece of mine is the very large "The Deluge", his take on Michelangelo's great fresco in the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. A video montage is even shown on the making of this particular piece.... from casting call to the actual shoot.... Just Amazing!!!

Part of "The Deluge" panel.
Another favorite section of mine is the "Jesus is My Homeboy" series, done during the early 2000's... here Mr LaChapelle envisions Jesus Christ reborn in present day, preaching his gospel. Mr. LaChapelle placed him as a man of the people and the streets - preaching and caring for the downtrodden and not the high society elite.

There were so many more favorites - so much more that am feeling a second or even third visit is necessary to be able to really take it all in... those of you in Taipei - I HIGHLY RECOMMEND taking in the exhibition -- TRULY a worthwhile experience - I know both Juliana and I enjoyed it tremendously...

EXHIBITION PHOTOS HERE