(It still can be: Peter Hujar: Rialto runs until the beginning of September.)
Of course, therealreason to visit is to see Hujars incredible work.
I prefer that approachespecially in portraiture.
Courtesy of The Peter Hujar Archive
Im seeing a lot of images I havent seen before, Green said that afternoon.
Mitchell, Spring Street(also from 1965).
Its of a casually dressed Mitchell in a deserted cobbled street in pre-gentrified SoHo.
Two Girls, Southbury, 1957, Peter Hujar © The Peter Hujar Archive
Thats so beautiful, said Green.
I mean, that could be today.
He should know: One memorable early shoot of Greens featured kids dressed in cool adult attire.
Drag Ball, Hotel Diplomat, 1968, Peter Hujar. © The Peter Hujar Archive
Ive just done another shoot like that thats coming out soon, he said.
Those walls we put up as adults aren’t there yet.
But, yeah: Not everyone can do it.
Young Self-Portrait (IV), 1958, Peter Hujar. © The Peter Hujar Archive
Drag Ball, Hotel Diplomat, 1968, Peter Hujar.
This was taken the very same yearThe Queendocumentary (narrated by Flawless Sabrina, no less!)
Oh my god, it looks so beautiful, Green said of this image.
Paul Thek on Zebra, 1965, Peter Hujar © The Peter Hujar Archive
I love her lookhe indicated the center figurethe hair is amazing.
Everybody just looks so pretty.
Young Self-Portrait (IV), 1958, Peter Hujar.
Loulou de la Falaise, 1968, Peter Hujar © The Peter Hujar Archive
Green had also just taken a nude self portrait, reclining on his sofa at home.
Certain things dont matter anymore, and other things do.
What, specifically, mattersand what doesnt?
Palermo Catacombs #10, 1963, Peter Hujar @ The Peter Hujar Archive
Its the control of it.
I feel like I can…you have to almost trick yourself to let go if you want to.
There was another question for Green.
How do you get to the point of letting go?
You take, Green replied, a lot of pictures.
You almost have to exhaust yourself.
I feel like theres a big leap between the zebra and this [surf image].
Green loves photographing animals.
The goal is always to…Youve got to approach them as you do people.
Maybe she loved it, you know?
I dont even think about her breast being exposed when I see this, Green said.
The thing I noticed first is how beautiful the curve of the neckline is.
As for his own foray into photographing todays celebrities, Green is philosophical.
You wouldnt get away with doing these pictures any more.
Everyone is more guarded now.
Essentially, its a series of mummified corpses on display.
Others have disintegrating flowers adorning them.
That hes approaching this as he would if it was a person.
Hes so delicateits not about shocking people.
A few moments later, we were back outside in that baking sunshine.
Conversation turned to the legacy that an artist creates through their work.
I think everyoneand I include myselfkind of hates being summarized by one thing, reflected Green.
And everyone loves to do that to people; we only have space for one idea of someone.
Peter Hujar: Rialto is on view at the Ukrainian Museum in New York through September 1.
