HBO Will Air a Documentary on Artist Robert Mapplethorpe
A documentary on the controversial artist Robert Mapplethorpe is coming to HBO next year.
HBO has been known for creating some riveting, award-winning documentaries. One of their last big ones, Going Clear, has gained international acclaim. And let’s not forget the Kurt Cobain documentary, Montage of Heck. Next up HBO will air a documentary on Robert Mapplethorpe, the controversial artist known for his homoerotic photographs.
Considering how well-known Mapplethorpe is in the art world, it’s surprising that there hasn’t been a major documentary on him yet.
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According to The Gothamist, Mapplethorpe: Look At the Pictures will trace Mapplethorpe’s entire life, up until his death of AIDS. Those outside of the art world may be more familiar with Mapplethorpe through Patti Smith’s memoir, Just Kids, which chronicled Smith’s close relationship with Mapplethorpe.
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The doc will apparently not shy away from Robert Mapplethorpe’s more difficult work, which is just how a documentary on an artist should be. Deadline lost points out that in a case of “who is copying who?” Showtime will have a miniseries based directly on Patti Smith’s memoir. That means, oddly enough, that 2016 is going to be the year of Robert Mapplethorpe.
As a personal fan of Robert Mapplethorpe and a huge fan of Patti Smith’s memoir, Just Kids, I’m excited for this project and glad that it found a home on HBO.
Next: The teaser for the sixth season of Game of Thrones is here.
Mapplethorpe: Look At the Pictures will be coning to HBO next April, which is also the same month that the sixth season of Game of Thrones will start.