Better
Female Speaker: He is known for shooting stars like Michael Jackson and Naomi Campbell and recently Lady Gaga for the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine. Now photographer David LaChapelle is making a statement with his sometimes controversial interpretations of mainstream culture. Lauren met up with the artists to get an inside look and his work.
David LaChapelle: The Pietà is normally Mother Mary holding her son, her dead son who descended from the cross and this one we have Jesus holding Michael, because we're all children of God, that's what we are taught, aren't we? It's about judgment, we are here to learn -- we are here to learn through his judgment about a judgment, about judging people, whether it's your neighbor or it's a celebrity and not believing what you read, not believing what gossip or what things you hear.
The Archangel Michael is always depicted stepping on the devil or a serpent with a sword in his hand and he's going to slay the devil and in my depiction he has thrown the sword down he is praying for us.
Lauren Ezersky: What is it about him that you so love, obviously besides his talent and you said the dignity like what is it that in his aura that you respect so much or a question?
David LaChapelle: I can't find the words, I mean honestly Michael to me he's the ultimate artist, it's like why do I love Michael Angelo because he's the ultimate artist, Michael Angelo, Michael Jackson, Walt Whitman, you know Andy Warhol, these are my heroes, these are my art heroes and Michael is right up with Michael Angelo on my book and what he gave the world all those hours of joy if you put them together how many years and years and years of people dancing and celebrating. Just go to any party, they put on Michael Jackson and watch what happens, suddenly everyone start smiles in the corner of faces and just think about that beauty enjoy brought to world he gave so much.
Lauren Ezersky: So tell me a little about this photo what's with the watch explain that. He is holding a watch, time?
David LaChapelle: Yeah, time.
Lauren Ezersky: Time is flying with the bird, it's a bird.
David LaChapelle: Well, the dove, you know the dove in art history the dove represented of the soul and it sort of time to make change. And when you get on the set and you have, you know a goat and Ruther and your three kids, one of them doesn't stop crying and the other one, the entire time and the mothers of the kids behind you I mean it's chaotic.
Lauren Ezersky: Yes.
David LaChapelle: And Naomi has got to whole dispose so I want to make it easy for the people and the way I can do that is to be really prepare. So I start with these sketches and drawing it's basically inspirations. So when I drew this and I'm painting it, then I Oh! I need to have those you know the neck rings.
Lauren Ezersky: Are you happy with the way that you involved in like what you're doing now, do you like your work and you're happy with it?
David LaChapelle: Now I was very happy yeah, I went through dark time, you know when -- I believe that getting, you know quitting really saved my life and moving to Hawaii, you know to this farm and it's sort of saved my life when I read about, you know Heath Ledger people you know other people prep photograph to have some stride, you know pretty if I am correct. I just know that it could have made so easy.
Lauren Ezersky: Well, you have a message to tell the world obviously and even though they're really intense pictures they're so beautiful there is some beauty.
David LaChapelle: Thank you.
Lauren Ezersky: The beauty to them also.
David LaChapelle: Oh! I hope so -- .
Lauren Ezersky: But they're gorgeous so thank you so much David have a good trip to Israel.
David LaChapelle: Thank you very much.
Lauren Ezersky: Yeow I'm Lauren Ezersky for Better.
Female Speaker: As Lauren mentioned LaChapelle is in Israel right now for an extensive exhibition at the Tel Aviv Museum.
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