In the series of 94 platinum prints “There’s A Place in Hell for Me and My Friends” (2011-2012), Pieter Hugo explores the supposed differences between skin colours. To do so, he took portraits of himself and South African friends. The close-ups, generally in the form of frontal head and shoulder portraits, were digitally processed afterwards. The image manipulation, whereby the colour channels were translated into grey tones, emphasise the pigmentation of the skin, using UV irradiation to render visible skin damage and small blood vessels directly beneath the skin. The results are quite astounding: on these photographs, all people are coloured. There is no longer a difference between “white” and “black” skin, but rather a variety of individual shades. The portraits show the powerful presence of each individual and, at the same time, the fragility of all people and the softness and utter vulnerability of their outer shell.
Title: There's a Place in Hell for Me and My Friends Publisher: OODEE Language: English Publication Date: 2012 Binding: Magazine Hardcover Book Condition: Excellent Dust Jacket Condition: N/A Edition: First Edition Run: N/A Size: 28 x 24 cm Pages: 148
