Skull Possibly 1988 - 1990

Curator: Mapplethorpe's "Skull" is a striking, intimate photograph, really a memento mori for our times. What jumps out at you first? Editor: Immediately, the high contrast of the stark black and white. It feels theatrical, almost staged, playing with light and shadow in ways that feel very deliberate. Curator: Absolutely, Mapplethorpe masterfully uses light to sculpt the skull, giving it both weight and an almost ethereal quality. Given Mapplethorpe's life and work, how does that symbolism resonate? Editor: Knowing Mapplethorpe’s biography, particularly his struggles with and eventual death from AIDS, this skull reads as a confrontation with mortality, and a potent symbol of the fragility of life, particularly within the queer community during the AIDS crisis. Curator: It's a stark reminder that beauty and decay can coexist, reflecting on mortality with a fierce, unflinching gaze. Editor: It’s also a haunting reflection on the sociopolitical climate of the time, and a powerful statement on visibility, resilience, and the enduring power of art.