Philip-Lorca diCorcia

For this assignment, I found that Philip-Lorca diCorcia creates images that balance everyday occurrances and staged photography so well that the viewer cannot tell what is the truth and what is the truth meant to be seen.  diCorcia works in editorial, travel, and street photography.  I love how his mindset is to question the truth with straightforward compositions.  He also challenges the idea of the decisive moment, which also peaks my interest because we are always taught to find it when creating images.


East of Eden, a large scale photography series started in 2008, focuses on the collapse of everything along with the loss of innocence.  The inspiration is the book of Genesis & John Steinbeck's novel East of Eden.  I was drawn to this series because it deals with the hunger of acceptance/greatness and gives us a view during and after the fall of those depicted in the image.  I relate to the fact that there is nothing visually saying that these photographs have religious implications, yet when you look at the titles/research they are clear.  The first image references the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, while the second is about Cain & Abel.  The third image references the story of Abraham and what's interesting in this is that he was throwing real darts at his son.

 Untitled, from the series “East of Eden” (2008), Philip-Lorca diCorcia

Cain and Abel (2013), Philip-Lorca diCorcia

Abraham (2010), Philip-Lorca diCorcia

Here is the link to see more work from East of Eden:
http://www.davidzwirner.com/exhibition/philip-lorca-dicorcia-10/page/8/

To view other works:
http://www.thecollectiveshift.com/show/portfolio/diCorcia