Call him what you like, deviant, lunatic, genius, exploitative; I have loved JPW since I first saw prints  from, and his book  “Gods of Earth and Heaven“. I know it is more than a little macabre for someone who used to get freaked out by anatomy books as a child, but he has been one of the most influential artists for me. I was instantly fascinated by his use of tortured figures, classical themes and compositions; Hieronymus Bosch with a camera. When I did more research, which in the days prior to the internet meant scouring art libraries for articles, I found a story that fascinated me. I was engaged, not because of the grotesque details but because it planted a seed in me to create a second self for the creation of art. 

Woman once a bird – Joel-Peter Witkin

Las Meninas by tomatelá! – Joel-Peter Witkin

Within Mask – Joel-Peter Witkin

The veracity of the story doesn’t matter, but it gave me license to create a personality that dealt with uncomfortable issues with the detatchemnt of an observer. I still use that personality today when making and marketing art, hence the nom-de plume.

Works by Witkin are available at Etehrton Gallery

Read the story of his “birth” on his Wikipedia page