$RICK CASTRO: SLEEK MAGAZINE- IN PERSON PROFILE 2024$
Rick Castro is an acclaimed American photographer, filmmaker, and artist known for his boundary-pushing work. Emerging from the vibrant cultural landscape of Los Angeles, Castro has made significant contributions to contemporary art and queer culture. His photography often explores themes of sexuality, subcultures, and the human condition, challenging societal norms and provoking thought through his raw and unapologetic visual style.
For SLEEK, he shares works from his personal archive, explaining why, in retrospect, he believes that these moments shaped him as an artist. SLEEK: Can you tell us about your early life and what led you to pursue a career in photography and the visual arts? RICK CASTRO: For as long as I can remember, I’ve had what some call a photographic memory. When I look at something, anything, I see the entire picture, visualise all the possibilities, and remember details. After working as a wardrobe stylist for fifteen or so years, I decided to create an image from start to finish. My first photo was taken in the summer of 1986. I was happy with the results, so I continued. S: How would you compare your work now to your work back then? RC: In the beginning, I experimented with various genres and topics – fetish, photojournalism, nudes, political themes, queer icons, BDSM, and fixation portraits. This exploration resulted in a substantial body of work, much of which has yet to be exhibited. Currently, I produce less work, but with more intent. S: Is there a particular era or a period that was significant to you, and why? RC: My most prolific period was the Nineties. During this decade, I focused on documenting male street hustlers on Santa Monica Boulevard, using black and white prints with noirish tones. Driven purely by obsession, I had no specific goal in mind. This can be a powerful motivator for an artist working on a personal project, as it is not rooted in the necessity to create income but only in the desire to create images. S: Was there a time you grew the most? RC: Although I’m old, I see myself as childlike. Is it possible to be both jaded and innocent at the same time? With that said, I’m still growing. My curiosity has never waned. I’m an adult baby. S: Who in your life inspires you the most? RC: I’m aware of some of my contemporaries and enjoy their work, but for the most part, I like the great artists of the past: Pier Paolo Pasolini, Pierre Molinier, Brassaï, Oscar Wilde, Tennessee Williams, Joris-Karl Huysmans, and Gilles de Rais. S: How do you approach your career? Do you set your own goals, or do you take opportunities as they arise? RC: As an artist, I do everything. I allow myself to consider all opportunities that present themselves through introduction and engagement, then choose what works best. Everything takes time, so I decide which projects are the best use of my time. S: How do you balance your motivation in your art – do you practise photography to provoke or to normalise? RC: I have no interest in being a commercial photographer – I worked that out of my system a while ago. My goal is to challenge the viewer with an idea that currently isn’t popular by presenting it as an established standard. Once the shock wears off, everything eventually becomes accepted as part of contemporary culture. The key is to still be around so you can be credited as the creator.
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