George Dureau
American, 1930 - 2014
(not assigned)New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, North America
BiographyNew Orleans artist George Dureau (b. 1930)They are uncompromising explorations into the heart of homoeroticism – portraits of black men brimming over with sensuality; images of physically different men, seen through the eyes of love.
George Dureau lives in New Orleans and defines himself as a Greco-Roman homosexual. He aims his camera at the men who live, work and play in the French Quarter. At 55 he is best known in the South for his paintings and drawings of men. But with these photographs, some of which are taken from a recently published book of his work, New Orleans, Dureau opens new chapters in the photographic imagery of men.
Other photographers have photographed the unusual before. Diane Arbus was a voyeur into worlds discounted by society at large. They were shocking for the blatant, unflattering picture of reality that they expressed. Joel-Peter Witkin is a voyeur into the darkness of his own soul. His pictures are shocking for the shadowy nightmares that he portrays as real. But Dureau photographs from the heart, insistent that there is beauty at every corner. One must merely be willing to see it and let it in.
Dureau loves and photographs without regard to the sexuality of his subjects; because they are here in Drummer, do not assume they are gay. Even though his subjects may be outsiders, outcasts from society's mainstream, Dureau imbues these portraits with a sense of dignity. These men know who and what they are. There is no shame in their being different. There is no regret.
But Dureau goes further. His photographs glow with the inherent sexual energy of his dwarfs and amputees. Look into their eyes. Listen to what they are saying. Feel the heat that cannot be denied.
http://truetales.org/writings/chester0508georgedureau.htm
Person TypeIndividual
Terms
- male
