SOFIA COPPOLA TRANSLATES HER VIEW THROUGH ROBERT MAPPLETHORPE’S LENS

Flower, 1980

By KAYLA TASCHEN

Last week Sofia Coppola debuted her curation aptitude by curating her first exhibition of Robert Mapplethorpe’s photography, which opened at the Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac just a little over a week ago in Paris. 

Like Sofia Coppola’s father, Francis Ford Coppola, Mapplethorpe is also a native from Queens, New York.  The well-known American photographer died at the early age of 42 from complications related to AIDS.  Just shortly to his death, the former boyfriend of Patti Smith ( prior to coming out of the closet) set up the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation, Inc to safeguard his work and to continue to promote his photos to raise money for AIDS and HIV research, which has donated millions of dollars under his fund.  

Sofia Coppola: Robert Mapplethorpe Opening. November 25, 2011, Paris

The foundation has been very successful in reviving Mapplethorpe’s works by employing influential names in the artistic community to curate shows around the globe. A list of curators include Scissor Sister (in London back in the January of 2011), Pedro Almodovar (which showed this summer in Madrid), and now Sofia Coppola’s recent opening in Paris.

The American director — known for her ethereal film aesthetics — has curiously chosen portraits of women who appear silently strong (see portrait of Paloma Picasso by Mapplethorpe featured below) portraitures of animals who seem vulnerable yet naturally beautiful in their presence, and some flower depictions that perhaps echo the essence of the two. In fact, the recently married Coppola (to Phoenix lead singer Thomas Mars), was concerned about her selection looking perhaps, “too girly.”
Have a watch at the opening of the exhibition in Paris at the Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac (video featured above), other footage of behind the scenes videos (below), as well as some images and more footage of the show (exhibited below).

The Robert Mapplethorpe exhibition by Sofia Coppola will be showing until January 7, 2012, so if you’re a fan of Sofia Coppola and or Robert Mapplethorpe, be sure to catch the exhibit if you’re in Paris.

Paloma Picasso, 1980

Kitten, 1983

Stella Astor, 1976

Flower, 1984

Marissa Berenson, 1983

ROBERT MAPPLETHORPE
Gallery Thaddaeus Ropac

CURATED BY SOFIA COPPOLA
NOVEMBER 25, 2011 – JANUARY 7, 2012
PARIS

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