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Havana

A work made of chromogenic print.
© 1999 Philip-Lorca diCorcia.

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  • A work made of chromogenic print.

Date:

1999

Artist:

Philip-Lorca diCorcia
American, born 1951

About this artwork

Philip-Lorcia diCorcia often orchestrates the production of his images from start to finish. In his series Streetwork (1993–99), however, the artist shifted gears and became, as he put it, “interested in the dramatic possibilities of chance.” He hid remotely controlled flashes synched to his camera over city streets, leaving one variable undetermined—the subject. Using his camera’s shutter as a trap, diCorcia captured seemingly banal, fleeting moments between strangers on the street. A final addition to Streetwork, Havana is one of 10 photographs that di Corcia took from a single vantage point in this manner, not knowing the situations that might materialize in front of his theatrical lighting. The mute presence of this man pausing on a sidewalk could be interpreted as either inquisitive or predatorial when considered in relation to the two young women at the counter nearby—although diCorcia insists in the “non-narrative” quality of his work.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Photography and Media

Artist

Philip-Lorca DiCorcia

Title

Havana

Place

United States (Artist's nationality:)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

Made 1999

Medium

Chromogenic print

Edition

1 of 10

Dimensions

Image, sight: 64.6 × 95 cm (25 7/16 × 37 7/16 in.); Frame: 86.4 × 118.1 × 3.8 cm (34 1/16 × 46 1/2 × 1 1/2 in.)

Credit Line

Photography Gala Endowment

Reference Number

2008.402

Copyright

© 1999 Philip-Lorca diCorcia.

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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