HBO to Premiere a Robert Mapplethorpe Documentary
Inside the life and career of the famous black-and-white photographer.
HBO will be bringing in a new documentary aboard its impressive roster of films that explores the work of the late New York photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. Following the eccentric artist’s illustrious career from his rise to fame with polaroid and black-and-white photography in the ’70s to his untimely passing from HIV/AIDS at the age of 42 in 1989, the film also delves into Mapplethorpe’s thriving posthumous career that remains afloat from his legacy. Titled Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures, the movie is expected to be a high caliber documentary, having been filmed and produced by acclaimed directors Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato. The name “Look at the Pictures” comes from the phrase that former U.S. senator and anti-homosexual rights supporter Jesse Helms once used to describe Mapplethorpe’s work, which to this day is credited for pushing the boundaries of sexuality in the art world.
Catch the trailer for Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures above and look for the documentary to hit HBO on April 4 at 9 p.m.
