Photographer Richard Holder has been alternately entertaining and shocking
us for some years now. His photo journals of Belize City streets and post hurricane
damage have emerged as some of the most enduring images in recent memory, while
his nude photographs have raised eyebrows and controversy. Well now his camera
lens is courting controversy again: Holder has put together a show called Xposure
Divine which takes on some of the most well known icons of the Christian
faith and transposes them into an almost local context. The show opens this
evening and we had a preview.
Richard Holder, Photographer
"This topic in specific has been tackled by other artists in the past.
From the Renaissance all the way up to now even contemporary artists have kind
of tried their take on this. So this is basically my take upon the whole thing.
I am trying to make these images accessible to my region. I am living in Belize
so therefore my saints and my Jesus, the way I portray them, are people of color
because I believe these figures are somewhat universal."
"I hope that people look at it in a positive way and not that I'm trying
to create some controversy or do something blasphemous. Just look at them, appreciate
them, and try to see my take on it and hopefully enjoy it. They are provocative
but I guess that's part of the interest in it."
You can see more Holder's Xposure at RichardHolder.com
7NEWS
produced for broadcast by News Director Jules
Vasquez
Edited and Prepared for the internet by Keith
Swift