26 | NEWS | WORLD * * * * 17.07.11
Laura Levine’s images of Madonna, in 1982; Chrissie Hynde and Iggy Pop, in 1987; and Michael Hutchence, in 1986. ‘I wanted to get away from all the artifice,’ she says. Courtesy of Steven Kasher Gallery, New York Unseen archive of the biggest 80s stars
downtown galleries after working as tures from that shoot are well known, but New York gallery shows rare vintage prints of chief photographer and photo editor not the one in show. She was a pleasure of underground newspaper New York to work with and had a real sense of self Chrissie Hynde, Michael Stipe and Madonna Rocker . She also published in the Village even then. I set that picture up by asking Voice , Sounds and Rolling Stone . her to scream.” “My photo sessions would be very The show also includes an evocative The photographic show, titled Musi- relaxed,” said Levine. “Most of the sub- picture of Tina Weymouth of Talking by Vanessa (orpe cians , is being mounted by the Steven jects I didn’t know beforehand, although Heads and hip-hop artist and DJ Grand- Arts and Media Correspondent Kasher Gallery and came about almost some became friends. The REM photo I master Flash. Marking the birth of hip- by accident after Kasher worked with took in Athens, Georgia, at a point where hop as a popular genre, it was taken in A revealing archive of unseen photo- Levine on another show chronicling the they were very good friends. It was one New York in 1981 in front of a wall of graphs of music stars taken more than same era. Levene’s show is being billed of many times I photographed them. By graffiti. “I love that shot. It was for the 20 years ago is to go on display in a New as an insider’s look at the artists at the the time I did that picture in the diner cover of Andy Warhol’s magazine Inter- York gallery on Thursday. The images, forefront of rock, punk, indie rock, post- I knew them really well. I flew down view . They look great with those boom- all taken by Laura Levine while work- punk hip-hop, new wave and no wave to see them and we spent two whole boxes,” said Levene. ing for a succession of music magazines – and it is already causing a stir in the days just going around Athens and we “I think the most important thing with in Manhattan, show performers such as Big Apple. stopped there for lunch. Then I thought anyone you photograph is to establish a Chrissie Hynde and Michael Stipe in an “We were setting up a punk and post- Laura Levine took her last picture in 1994. this would be a great picture, so I got real sense of trust.” unpretentious setting or a pose that often punk poster show and talking to Laura behind the counter and told them all to challenges their public image. then,” said Christiona Owen of the gal- including the photographer’s vintage look up.” ONLINE GALLERY “It was definitely my intention to get lery. “Steven has known Laura for many gelatin silver prints, many of which are Among the other images in the show is away from the studio look,” Levine told years and enjoyed her photography and one of a kind. a striking early photograph of Madonna. See our selection of photographs from the Observer this weekend. “I started so we invited her to do a second show “There’s been a strong interest in see- “I took it before she was famous in 1982, out as more of a photojournalist anyway with us. We didn’t realise how many vin- ing the photos so we think the show is I think she had her first single coming Laura Levine’s Manhattan exhibition and I wanted to get past all the artifice. I tage prints she had for show that hadn’t going to be very popular,” said Owen. out, and she was really game,” said Lev- guardian.co.uk/inpictures wanted to show a side to the public that been seen in public before.” Levine has not taken photographs ine. “I knew nothing about her at the ON OTHER PAGES was really something that they weren’t The show will be the first solo gallery since 1994 and has worked instead in time. She came over to my apartment in aware of. To show them something you exhibition for Levine and will feature painting, video and animation, but in Chinatown and climbed up all the steps Inside Hollywood’s dream factory don’t normally see.” more than 35 vintage and modern prints, the 1980s she showed frequently in to the top. I think some of the other pic- 3e(e New Review, page 27 !"#$% &' (#&)*
AFGHANISTAN TURKEY US CHINA MEXICO Nato soldier’s killer wore ‘Al-Qaida gang’ accused of Final Harry Potter movie US ‘won’t support Ambushers shoot dead a uniform of Kabul’s army plot to attack US embassy sets a box-office record independent Tibet’ dozen police and a civilian A man wearing an Afghan army Fourteen suspected al-Qaida militants The eighth and final Harry Potter film China accused the US of “grossly” Gunmen have killed at least 12 state uniform shot and killed a member of have been charged with planning an has set a new box-office record after interfering in its internal affairs and police officers and one bystander at a the Nato forces yesterday in southern attack on the US embassy in Ankara. making $92m (£57m) at the box office damaging relations after President fake roadside checkpoint in the west- Afghanistan, the US-led coalition said. The suspects were charged late on in the United States and Canada on its Barack Obama met exiled Tibetan ern state of Sinaloa. The shooting was part of a spate of Friday, just before Hillary Clinton opening day in cinemas. spiritual leader the Dalai Lama at the The police were in a convoy weekend attacks that killed at least arrived in Istanbul for a meeting on Harry Potter and the Deathly White House. travelling from the city of Los Mochis nine people, including two other religious tolerance. A 15th suspect was Hallows Part 2 has shattered the “Such an act has grossly interfered – where they had helped to launch a foreign troops. released. single-day record to overtake The in China’s internal affairs, hurt “safe commerce” programme – when It is not known if the uniformed According to the Turkish state news Twilight Saga: New Moon, which the feelings of Chinese people and they were attacked near the town of gunman was a member of the Afghan agency, Anatolia, police had tracked previously held the accolade after damaged the Sino-American relations.” Guasave at about 6pm on Friday. The army or a militant in disguise. A one of the suspects for six months earning $73m (£45m) on its first day Obama met the Nobel prize bystander was said to be driving home manhunt, led by members of the and had seized 700kg of chemicals, of release in 2009. The film has drawn laureate for some 45 minutes, but from a job at a nearby tortilla stand. Afghan national security forces, was along with bomb-making instructions, good reviews from critics as well as reiterated that the US did not support Two officers were injured in an attack under way, Nato said. AP assault rifles and ammunition. AP box-office success. Cherry Wilson independence for Tibet. Reuters in Los Mochis earlier that day. AP