Photography Collection

The gallery Karl Pfefferle, Munich, Germany, presents new photographs by Larry Clark. He portrayed Jonathan Velasquez, a youngster and immigrant from latin america living in South Central, Los Angeles. He is a member of a skater gang performing punk-music. Here is what Larry Clark reports about how he got to know Jonathan Velasquez:

"The winter of 2002 in New York City was brutal and continued well into 2003. Tif andI were getting fat. Snappy was very needy, We all went to California to do somepublicity for KEN PARK. I was to photograph Tiffany for a french magazine, REBEL, because my film was opening in Paris. I photographed Tif with some young teenagers from the ghetto we met at the little skatepark in Venice beach. The next morning we went with the two french ladies from the magazine to South Central Los Angeles to pick them up and photograph them in the hood. We brought a long breakfast sandwiches. It was the 4th of July, 2003. We met the kids and were standing in the street when we saw him. We were stunned. „Who is that?“ „Our friend. Can he come?“ „Yes“ „Whats his name?“ „Jonathan“ It was like he dropped out of heaven. I started photographing the kids skateboarding and Tiffany with Jonathan. A few hours later the french ladies had Tiffany and Jonathan in French underwear. It was a natural. I’m thinking, is his legal? Jonathan Velasquez, a just 14 year old (5-5-89) latino living with his family in South Central Los Angeles. He is not a model. He was not an actor. Today is July 4, 2007. I have been photographing him for four years. Here are a lot from the first three. I just hung out with Jonathan and his friends as they grew up. Carlos and Porky and Kico and Louie and spermball (Milton) and Rob G and Churro and PJ and Armando and.....