Sensitive Orchestrations

While Robert Mapplethorpe’s flower photographs are widely known, there has been less attention on the vessels that frequently form part of these carefully constructed compositions. The bowls and vases depicted in his still lifes, which often stem from the artist’s own collection, are a testament to Mapplethorpe’s deep appreciation for design – and reflect the same unerring sense for aesthetics and delight in classic forms that also distinguish his photographic oeuvre. 

This interconnection forms the foundation of the current exhibition in Berlin: the receptacles in Mapplethorpe’s sensual, mostly black and white photographs are not only an important element, but also a source of inspiration for his sensitive orchestrations. It is an approach that invites us to uncover intimate moments of reciprocity within the image. Behold the Lowly Vessel takes the viewer on a very personal journey through Mapplethorpe’s work, and offers deeper insights into the reasons for the extraordinary resonance it has received.