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Andy Warhol pioneered behind-the-scenes celebrity photos, but what was it like to take a portrait of him? Photographer Christopher Makos knows better than anyone: the Pop Art trailblazer was his muse and close friend, and called him „the most modern photographer in America.“ „We had so much fun taking pictures of each other… I had a good time, having him as my muse,“ Makos told AAP. They both had sexually repressed Catholic upbringings, and a similar outlook on life: Makos arrived in New York in the late 1970s, a time of incredible creativity in the city. Warhol was already world famous by then and would dress up as almost any character for Makos' lens, with many of the classic images of Warhol taken by him. Now in his 70s, the photographer is in Australia for the launch of a new show at the Art Gallery of South Australia that looks at Warhol's enduring relevance in the age of social media. The Pop Art icon was an influencer before the internet was even invented. „Warhol was the original Kim Kardashian, he always had a camera, he always had a recording device,“ Makos said. The exhibition is the first in Australia to look specifically at Warhol's obsession with photography.

Taking pictures was at the core of his practice and he took some 60,000 photographs in his lifetime. So what has Adelaide made of Warhol? If you liked this posting and you would like to acquire far more data concerning depo 40+40 kindly check out our own web site. Makos enthuses that it's a five-star show that could easily be in Paris, Milan or indeed, New York. With more than 250 works spanning photographs, experimental films, screen prints and paintings, the gallery's own holdings of 45 Warhol photos will also be displayed together for the first time. The pictures offer glimpses of a spectacular list of celebrities, including Muhammad Ali, Bob Dylan, Debbie Harry, Mick Jagger, John Lennon, Liza Minnelli, Lou Reed and Elizabeth Taylor. Warhol was completely attuned to the power of images and celebrity to shape his identity and reputation. So the gallery is encouraging people to bring their phones and cameras to the show and post images online, ensuring the Adelaide exhibition will be seen worldwide. Makos believes viewer participation is the show's ultimate message. „Everybody can be Warhol - take those pictures and start posting them everywhere, and that will make you so Warholian,“ he said. While Makos' career bloomed with access to the talent and celebrities surrounding his friend, Warhol also benefited greatly from their relationship. For example, Makos often stitched his photos together on a sewing machine into grids of four. At Warhol's final show in New York in 1987, he did the same, and the critics loved it. The artist often credited with coining the phrase '15 minutes of fame' is in the spotlight in Australia, with a Pop Art show featuring dozens of his works opening on the Gold Coast in February. His legacy of art still seems fresh and radical even though some of his iconic paintings are more than 60 years old. That's because his subject is the United States of America, Makos declares: Warhol is still relevant because he never looked to Europe for his ideas. „His inspiration was the American car crash, the electric chair, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley,“ Makos said. „When you have America as your brand, you're going to be around for a long time.“ Makos introduced Warhol to the work of Pop Art proponents Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat, and reminisces about socialising at the Factory and Studio 54. „Keith Haring was painting, Basquiat was hanging around, Debbie Harry and The Talking Heads were playing music at CBGBs,“ Makos said. But he takes issue with contemporary accounts of the artists' relationships that focus on conflict, and declines to consume the films and media about their lives. „Because I'm still alive, I know the real stories. Every relationship has rocky times but it all comes out the other side,“ he said. Andy Warhol and Photography: A Social Media opens at the Art Gallery of South Australia on March 3 as part of the 2023 Adelaide Festival and runs until May 14.