I knew by the thumbnail that this was going to be good. That’s it. That’s all it took. “Oh, a real photographer,” I thought. And then I looked at the organization behind this film and wondered, since when did Louisiana become so interested in photography? We know the state is home to the world’s greatest football team, but photography? Since when? Well, it turns out I’m an idiot. Something many of you already knew. What is the Louisiana Channel?
Weekly videos on art, literature, architecture and design are produced by Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Denmark. Louisiana Channel is supported by Den A.P. Møllerske Støttefond, Ny Carlsbergfondet, C.L. Davids Fond og Samling and Fritz Hansen. Louisiana Channel is a non-profit website based at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Humlebæk, Denmark.
With Louisiana Channel as a platform, Louisiana supplies culture to the Net that extends beyond the museum’s own events. The Louisiana team produces videos about art and culture ongoing, and new videos are posted every week. Louisiana Channel contributes to the permanent development of the museum as a cultural platform and wants to enhance the sense of the importance of art and culture.
We see Louisiana Channel as a proposal for a part of a museum in tune with the 21st century, which is also able to hold the attention and interest of a new generation in cultural heritage, a thoughtful present and an ambitious future.
Okay, that’s it. I’m going. I’ve been threatening Denmark with a visit for years, and I feel it time to make good on my threat. And what better chance will I have to visit South America? Now, let’s get back to this film. I had never heard of An-My Lê which is odd because I’ve given talks at Bard. How I missed her is beyond me, so thankful to Louisiana for shining a light.
I grew up before the noise. Before the machines came and forced us to live underground. Wait, that’s not happened yet. I grew up before the noise of online photographers. People like An-My Lê represent things like pace, depth, training, and the ability to create a story before sharing every single agonizing detail. When I see her boxes of negatives and prints. When I see her ability to articulate her responses. When I see her describe where the stories come from I think “Yes, this is why I became a photographer.” This is the impact that photography can have.
I want to share a little bit about her.
An-My Lê (b.1960) is an internationally renowned photographer primarily based in New York. She is currently the Charles Franklin Kellogg and Grace E. Ramsey Kellogg Professor in the Arts at Bard College, New York. Lê has received numerous awards, including the American Academy of Arts and Letters Award in Art, the MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, the Guggenheim Fellowship, and the Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Award.
Lê’s work has been exhibited widely, including in the Whitney Biennial and Taipei Biennial, as well as the Minneapolis Institute of Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Tate Modern, among others. In 2020, Lê had a major exhibition at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which traveled to the Amon Carter Museum and the Milwaukee Art Museum, for which a comprehensive catalog was published by Aperture. In 2024, Between Two Rivers/Giữa hai going sông/Entre deux rivières, a 30-year survey of her career, including her forays into film, textiles, and installation, was presented at the Museum of Modern Art, New York.
Now this is a CV. This is what a high-level professional looks like. There are many tells in this CV, things you should pick up on that will help you understand the level of commitment. Each one of the titles, awards and institutions should lead you down a rabbit hole. If you want to get better as a photographer, forget the gear heads, the camera films and the rest of the nonsense. Study her. Start there. That should keep you busy for a long, long time.
Comments 24
“Okay, that’s it. I’m going. I’ve been threatening Denmark with a visit for years, and I feel it time to make good on my threat. And what better chance will I have to visit South America? ”
LOL I see what you did there…
Author
Yes, that was for the Americans in the audience.
Author
Yes, I read the Sympathizer. I also love the cover art on his books.
This was excellent. Reminded me of a Vietnamese author, and you may already know his work, which is also excellent, Viet Nguyen.
I loved the documentary and she is an incredibly sensitive and articulate visionary trying to make sense of two cultures ripped apart and sewn together roughly.
Author
Well said. Yes, she makes me think and makes me want to go do something good.
Ahh I knew of Louisiana Channel.. I wish I had thought to share it with you!
Author
I think I knew of it too but it had been some time.
I am concerned you are snooping my browser history! This video just popped into my feed over the weekend. Then I went down the rabbit hole of watching all of the channel’s videos. Lots of artists I’d never heard of, some of whom’s work isn’t really available anymore. Ms Le’s story is compelling as is some of her imagery; I think some is close to Stephen Shore’s work.
Author
Of course I’m snooping. How else am I going to sell you on my new action figure?
She sets the bar high. Wow! Also, she is good at explaining her work and motivation. I remembered the Aperture article, and found the film very inspiring.
Author
How many times have I said on this site, “You must know how to talk about your work.” However, you must have work worth talking about.
Louisiana Channel…..One of the best channels on You Tube.
Author
Agreed. Those damn Danes.
I could have sworn I sent you a link to the Stephen Gill Louisiana channel video regarding his body of work called “The Pillar.” It’s about birds, and we know you have a thing for birds.
I will second what Neil has said above.
Author
You probably did.
That was an absorbing nearly 40 minutes, sipping my morning coffee, and thinking about what photography is in the world now. I made me want to pick up one of the cameras and go make photos. Or go into the darkroom and work on prints.
Author
That’s what good photography does. It makes you want to get involved.
“…meeting the devil halfway” To understand the complexities of the human condition and really see it. I thought her comment was profound because to tell a complete story, you have to be willing to look at the complete story. Take it in and translate it so someone else can share that completeness. Showing only the pretty parts won’t cut it. I struggle with that a bit, partly because of my own theories about beauty and what it offers humans who can take it in. I think beauty offers a portal, so to speak, to connect with one’s humanity. Yet I also know that we humans are not just beauty. We are capable of great acts of atrocity. Even while we’re also capable of such generosity. I know I will ponder this further. I was also fascinated with how she included thread in her work as a means of slowing the taking in of her work so one can grasp the totality of it. Thank you for sharing, Dan.
Author
She has something to say. She knows how to tell a story, and she is willing to put the time in. This is why I love those still mired in the old world of photography. They make the best work. They are the most interesting.
Big fan of the Louisiana Channel! Their artist videos are second to none
Author
They must have mountains of crews in the field.
Yes we love Louisiana Museum in Denmark. And the YT channel is great. Check the video with photographer Jacob Holdt. What a character.
Author
I’m suggesting an invasion. Just know, we WILL bring you democracy.