Decadence is a celebration exhibit showcasing a sample of photographs by Richard Holder from the past ten years 1999-2009. Ten years on Richard Holder has covered a hell of a lot of ground while orchestrating his photographic investigations. He has cultivated a political, social and commercial aura and became the most dominant photographer of his generation.  Yet, with his political and commercial life in photography Holder has maintained credibility and continuity in the art world of Belize displaying a body of work over the past ten years that is rich in conceptual attitude and space. Holder opened his own photo studio RH Photo in 2006. He has participated with regional artists from the Caribbean and Central America on the groundbreaking contemporary art project Landings from 2004 – 2009.

Holder is a man of the moment. He works best within a matrix of conflict. On a given day he might meet with a wedding couple in the morning, go on a bikini shoot in the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary for the Belikin Beer calendar in early afternoon, shoot drunkards and crack heads on North Front Street, Belize City at dusk and update his website www.richardholder.com in the night.

There are some thirty photographs in Decadence. A new picture done for this show features a nude young woman smoking while holding a picture of an old man in front of her face. This is a classic Holder technique merging the sexual with the social. In 2000 Holder said of nudity in his art: “My nudes are a little different from the stuff you see in, if you are familiar with Playboy or Penthouse or stuff like that. I try to focus more on the composition, on creating something interesting within the picture that you could immediately enjoy. They are not necessarily about sex like I said. A lot of people have that idea that once someone takes their clothes off it’s all about sex and completely sexual and offensive, some people have hesitations about that.” (Channel 5 website).

Two stunning images from this exhibition are Arielle and Lupina. Arielle is a provocative picture bursting with energy, sexual dynamism and confident movement. It is youthful, modern, fashionable, and full of the superficial celebrity aura we’ve all been constantly consuming. It is post-modern. Lupina is an image diametrically opposed to Arielle in that it hinges on a cliché of the traditional. However, Holder manages to capture an elegance and grace that is humanist and universal. While Arielle fills us with a sense of energy, Lupina forces us to contemplate and reflect.

Decadence is a show you must see. It is a magnificent time capsule of Holder the photographer’s work over the past decade. The show clearly shows the connection he has made with the society via his images. The range of his expression, the quality of output and the stamina of ten years is significant in the transient modern culture.

Works for Decadence are taken from Holder’s past show which include:

2000 March NUDES 1st exhibition in Belize at House of Culture

2001 November Documents the aftermath of Hurricane Iris with Norris Hall

2002 May – MUSE first exhibition at the Image Factory

2003 August – WE exhibition

2004 March – His photograph The Last Supper gains national recognition on Channel 7

        May - Landings 1st art project with artists from the Caribbean and Central America

2005 May 13 Exposure Divine at House of Culture in Belize City

2008 October Project Poverty at the Mexican Institute for Cooperation in Belize City

Be first to comment this article

Write Comment
Please keep the topic of messages relevant to the subject of the article. Personal verbal attacks will be deleted. Please don't use comments to plug your web site. Such material will be removed. Just ensure to *Refresh* your browser for a new security code to be displayed prior to clicking on the 'Send' button. Keep in mind that the above process only applies if you simply entered the wrong security code.
Name:
E-mail
Title:
Comment:
Code:*
	I wish to be contacted by email regarding additional comments