Art Analysis Blog Post, Richard Mosse, Safe From Harm, 2012

Richard Mosse is an Irish photographer based in New York City. He earned a BA from King’s College London in 2001 and a Master of Fine Arts in photography from Yale University.

He is best known for capturing images of war, humanitarian crises, and environmental destruction. Instead of using traditional photojournalism methods, Mosse experiments with military equipment and special film technology. These tools, originally made for war and reconnaissance, help him uniquely highlight serious global issues.

Through long-term projects, Mosse creates powerful images that show the harsh realities of conflict and displacement. His work challenges the way photography tells these stories, blending art and documentary to provide a new and thought-provoking perspective. 

Richard Mosse, Safe From Harm, 2012

Safe From Harm, taken in 2012 by Richard Mosse, is a photograph from his Infra series, which documents conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mosse used Kodak Aerochrome infrared film, originally made for military use, to create images where landscapes and soldiers appear in bright pink and red tones.

The photograph shows an armed soldier standing in a war-torn environment, blending beauty with the harsh reality of conflict. By using unusual colors, Mosse challenges how war photography is typically seen, encouraging viewers to think differently about violence and suffering.

Bibliography: 

Benson, Louise. “In Richard Mosse’s Pink Congo, Death Is More than Just a Number.” ELEPHANT, 14 May 2020, elephant.art/in-richard-mosses-pink-congo-death-is-more-than-just-a-number-08052020/.

Frizzell, Deborah. “Richard Mosse’s Enclave | Cultural Politics | Duke University Press.” Skip Nav Destination Research Article| July 01 2015 Richard Mosse’s Enclave: Dream of the Celt, 1 July 2015, read.dukeupress.edu/cultural-politics/article/11/2/163/25804/Richard-Mosse-s-EnclaveDream-of-the-Celt.

Richard Mosse, Safe From Harm, 2012

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