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The real photographers are not dedicated to capturing fashion: Bailey

"Most of the photographs are images of fashion only because the real photographers are not dedicated to that," said the Briton David Bailey (London, 1938), with almost half a century devoted to this task and who is defined as one of the "Last cockneys (inhabitant of the slums of the capital of England)."

Although "rarely" those shots "beyond a page in a magazine to become something that maybe people colgaría in the wall," the first picture of Bailey in applying to a museum, the Metropolitan, which was made for Diana Vreeland, then head of the U.S. edition of Vogue, the first "supermodel Jean Shrimpton, dressed in a coat designed by Balenciaga.

The image became a sort of icon of his era, defined by Bailey as "the swinging London" in the 60s. It can be said that the photographer served as a model for the character of the actor David Hemmings in the movie Blow-up (1966), Michelangelo Antonioni.

This photograph of the model is not included in the powder in love, first exhibition in Mexico Bailey, who introduced in the gallery Hilario Galguera (Francisco Pimentel 3, San Rafael colony), which will conclude the exhibition February 20.

In fact, only nine photos are included, because Bailey loves the "simplicity".

In 1999, however, mounted the show The birth of the cool (The Birth of the cool), with about 250 photos in the London Barbicon Center, which involved "a lot of work."

Mexico has a special soul

Bailey was one of those responsible for the launch of the British fashion in the'60s. However, the interviewee confesses that he never much interested in this aspect.

In this regard, explains: "I am dedicated to this because Vogue called me to hire me with only 21 years. I was happy that Conde Nast, owner of the magazine, invited me to take pictures of girls.

"Back then it was not possible to keep taking pictures of what one would like, because there was a market for it. Perhaps in the United States in Caramel, with Ansel Adams, but in Europe, forget it. In some ways it was more creative fashion. "

In 2007, Bailey won "more money than ever" to the extent that "I earn more this year to pay the taxes generated."

- Does your attitude toward fashion changed over time?

No, I always liked. I have a lot of sex.

- Does that matter?

Of course. One could be creative and Vogue has always behaved well with me. I still work for the magazine, just last week I made one. But, in general, today is what I do for myself.

- Have you ever considered working for a news agency?

No, this is another kind of photography. I think my picture, not the encounter, although at times yes, there are no rules.

- Do you always bring a camera?

-More or less.

Very close friend of his compatriot, the artist Damien Hirst, Bailey came into the country half a dozen times.

"I like Mexico, has a special soul," he said. Among the protagonists of their photos on display there statue of Christ the mourners, bought here, and skulls.

"The skulls says women are executed in Africa, probably in the late eighteenth century. The photo of flowers was made in Guatemala, the butterflies in London and my wife Catherine are part of a series I did on the shroud, I published a book 20 years ago. The ears of Mickey Mouse arose because Walt Disney is one of the great artists of the twentieth century. "

Taste for death

- Is it hard to display photos referring to the death?

-I like death. My next exhibition will be of flowers and skulls, but not from humans but from crocodiles. Will be juxtaposed with flowers, so it will be about the beauty and death.

Bailey attributes his attraction to the death of his childhood during World War II: "London was bombed on a daily basis until I was seven years. I remember that the death was everywhere. I was not scared, because when one is born into this, there is no significance. I spent much of my time in shelters.

"In the'60s my favorite music was the consecration of spring, of Igor Stravinsky, so I love the time when flowers burst."

Among the projects for this David Bailey 2008, is about to leave a book on his Anjelica Houston.

In the fall will come another, the violation of sight, with photographs of people who "violated the eyes."

A third book will have as its subject barrio home, the East End, from which "all the gangsters, boxers, the real cockneys, because I am from the past. Today pure Pakistanis living there. "

Via La Jornada

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