Philip-Lorca DiCorcia Polaroids

At the Armory Show, David Zwirner Gallery stand drew much attention. The NY dealer had a solo show on Philip-Lorca diCorcia Polaroids. The 100 images belonged to different series, from the Hustler early works to more recent ones, like the Pole dancers. With an asking price of 4000$, it was seen by many collectors as a good opportunity to acquire a unique piece by a great photographer.

But more importantly, it offered a fantastic view on DiCorcia’s creative process. The Hustler Polaroids, for instance, are quite revealing. They can be seen as sketches, took by the photographer before the final shot, in the way portrait painters often use drawings to arrange their composition. The real surprise comes from the fact that they stand as works on their own. In front of large Hustler prints, indeed, I thought these images needed more intimacy. This is exactly what the Polaroids provide us with.

Images courtesy David Zwirner Gallery & the artist