Articles

Entrevista a Trina Bardusco – En Busca del duende

Carlos Pintado

En busca del duende atestigua la magia que el legendario fotógrafo neoyorquino Gilles Larraín ha captado- y sigue captando- con su lente al asomarse entre bastidores para documentar la vida y el arte de los mejores flamencos del mundo.
Esta serie documental sigue los pasos de Larraín mientras retrata momentos de genialidad en sesiones fotográficas que a la vez son juergas de música, canto, toque y baile, y exponen el espíritu de un arte cuyas raíces –como el olivo frente al cual nos confronta Mario Maya- están profundamente arraigadas en el Sur de España. » Read More

Gilles Larrain Captures Duende with a Camera

By Julienne Gage

Stepping into the basement of photographer Gilles Larrain’s SOHO studio in New York City is a bit like dipping down into a gypsy cave in Spain. Old copper pots hang in the kitchen above a long rustic table that serves as a gathering place for spontaneous parties of wine, cheese, and Larrain’s own flamenco guitar playing. On the other end is an even more intimate space for Larrain—his well-lit photo set. From Miles Davis and John Lennon to Glenn Close and Salvador Dalí, Larrain has captured the essence of hundreds of celebrities in three-decade career, but flamencos are the artists he most loves to photograph. » Read More

S Magazine #10 – Light Show

By J.P.T. Molyneux

Some photography deserves words to go along with it. When the great photographer Gilles Larrain decides to shoot a subject who is as intriguing as the actress and dancer Miho Nicaido, commentary is in order, because it is not every day that two very authentic art icons free of faddishness; free of fraudulence meet, elevate each other’s virtues, and thus elevate the craft of portraiture. For this exclusive shoot, which took place in New York’s SoHo neighborhood in late 2009, S Magazine and its readers are particulary privileged. » Read More

VICE Magazine: The Fashion Issue 2010 – Gilles Larrain

By RYAN MCGINLEY

I can’t remember when I first saw the book Idols by Gilles Larrain. All I know is that ever since I got it, it’s been a huge influence on me. Idols is one of the best photography books I’ve ever seen. It was published in 1973 and it’s a collection of studio portraits of trannies, gender-benders, and just generally awesome-looking people in New York City. It’s an incredible time capsule. There are Warhol people, like Taylor Mead and Holly Woodlawn, and members of the San Francisco–based psychedelic drag-queen performance troupe the Cockettes. There’s a photo of the artist Al Hansen, aka Beck’s grandfather, covered in silvery paint and dressed up like some kind of Roman soldier, and an unrecognizable teenage Harvey Fierstein, looking like a young pretty Jewish lady (well, almost). Most important, these people all had the best style. The greatest fashion always originates with drag queens. The outfit you’re wearing today was probably invented by a drag queen ten years ago. » Read More

Gilles Larrain – On The Jitney: May 2009

Written and Illustrated by Lynn Matsuoka

This is an invitation to what is becoming the Destination SoHo Art Salon Party, a convergence of talented artists, special musical guests, and the great photographer (and philosopher) Gilles Larrain’s compelling Flamenco guitar performances on his vintage Gurian Guitar throughout. Food, wine and the artsy atmosphere of Gilles’ Grand Street Studio combine with encourage excitement and interaction with the artists. Their artwork mostly created on site during the Salon is on display and available for sale at startup-friendly prices. I am there as well, doing a limited number of 5-minute portraits for same. » Read More

Toast for Gilles Larraín 70th Birthday, January 17th 2009

By Hayley McCulloch

Gilles Larrain is an Opera, the kind you will willingly sit through, enraptured, absolutely spellbound -even when you really need to get up and pee. This is going to be a long one, and I met some of you at the door, remember? (and I’ve got your names, so don’t even think about it…) » Read More

Zoom Magazine – English Edition 1981

By Jack Schofield

If you know the name of Gilles Larrain, this portfolio of pictures will surprise you. This is Larrain the artist – whose materials are air, smoke, light, water, neon tubes – Larrain the sculptor of the environment. And this is Larrain the photographer – whose subjects were New York transvestites with impossibly painted faces, and young men with firm flesh bulging through their tight leather outfits – Larrain the documentor of the sexual underworld. (See Zoom 16 French edition, or his book, Idols.) » Read More

View Camera – Gilles Larrain: The French Chef of Photography

By Rosalind Smith

“It is time consuming and impractical,” he says, “and if you want to make money you must never do that. You can just press a button and that is it, then press another button and send it quick. I work in my darkroom because I enjoy it and because I want my life to be something I am happy with. I come from an old family where money was never that important and I feel completely out of touch with a world where money is the only thing that counts. I am not a money maker… my world is my pleasure.” » Read More

Sobre Arte y Fotografía Flamenca

By Carlos Lencero

Muchas han sido, a lo largo de los años, ya abundantes, las fotografías que sobre temas y presonajes flamencos me han sido dadas a ver. Simplemente ningunas han causado tanta impresión visual ni tanta conmoción interior en mi como la colección, recien conocida ahora del Sr. Gilles Larraín. » Read More

Zoom Magazine, 1972 – French edition

By Michel Caen

New York vit à l’heure de la féte. Une féte que nos yeux europeens savent mal déchiffrer aujourdʼhui, puisque nous ne verrons souvent que provocation, outrance et ridicule là où s’expriment, avec une déconcertante affirmation ludique, les premiers soubresauts d’une nouvelle liberation : The Gay Lib. Aprés les femmes et le Women’s Lib, les homosexuels (en anglais : gay) ont decidé de remettre en cause, avec leurs propres armes… » Read More