A provocative photography exhibition featuring the raw, uncompromising work of renowned street photographer Bruce Gilden is currently challenging visitors at WestLicht gallery in Vienna. The show, titled "A Closer Look," displays approximately 70 works by the Brooklyn-born artist and runs until February 22, presenting hard-hitting images that force viewers to confront uncomfortable realities about society's marginalized populations.
Gilden, born in 1946 in Brooklyn, doesn't shy away from his unconventional approach to photography. "My father was a gangster. I'm a gangster at heart!" the photographer boldly declares. His work demonstrates this fearless attitude through sharp, uncompromising shots taken at extremely close range, often capturing his subjects with an intensity that can feel almost overwhelming.
The exhibition focuses heavily on society's outcasts and marginalized individuals – the fallen, the forgotten, and those living on the fringes. The main gallery space features enormous prints that stare back at viewers with faces that possess what critics describe as "overwhelmingly brutal" and "uncomfortably oppressive" qualities. Among the featured works are striking portraits including "Amber" from Kensington, Pennsylvania (2023), "Donna" from Las Vegas, Nevada (2014), "Angel" from Overtown, Miami, Florida (2022), and "Jenna, a farm girl" from Des Moines, Iowa (2017).
When confronted with accusations of voyeurism and exploitative speculation, Gilden vehemently defends his artistic approach. "I don't give a damn about those arguments. My pictures are magnificent!" he responds to critics. The photographer maintains that he grants dignity to his subjects through his work, emphasizing that all photographed individuals were able to view their images beforehand and provide consent for their use. He argues that if society has a problem with these living realities, the fault doesn't lie with his documentation of them.
The exhibition extends beyond portraits of marginalized individuals to include outstanding black-and-white snapshots captured across diverse locations including Coney Island, New York, London, and Tokyo. These images showcase Gilden's mastery of street photography across different cultural contexts and urban environments.
The show deliberately provokes discussion about the ethical boundaries of photography and what the medium should be permitted to document. Gilden's statements, much like his exhibition, refuse to leave viewers indifferent and provide substantial material for ongoing debates about the role of photography in society, the responsibility of artists toward their subjects, and the fine line between artistic expression and exploitation of vulnerable populations.
