Open Minded 1

Gildn is one of the most famous and highest paid contemporary photographers in US. Don’t believe me? Just watch the video, see how familiar of his works to you. I have seen his photos in more than 100 photography books. Even in our small library of Sunway College, there are more than 10 photography books have his name and works listed. His annual income from selling his photo stocks is said above 1.5 million US$.


His Lists of Awards:

• 1979: New York Foundation for the Arts (Artist’s Fellowship), New York, USA; New York Foundation for the Arts (Artist’s Fellowship), New York, USA
• 1980: National Endowment for the Arts Photographer’s Fellowship
• 1984: National Endowment for the Arts Photographer’s Fellowship; New York Foundation for the Arts (Artist’s Fellowship), New York, USA
• 1992: National Endowment for the Arts Photographer’s Fellowship; New York Foundation for the Arts (Artist’s Fellowship), New York, USA
• 1994: New York Foundation for the Arts (Artist’s Fellowship), New York, USA
• 1996: European Publishers’ Award for Photography; Villa Medicis Hors les Murs Artist’s Fellowship
• 1999: The Japan Foundation Artist’s Fellowship
• 2000: New York Foundation for the Arts (Artist’s Fellowship), New York, USA

Do I agree his way of taking obsessive photos of strangers? It is controversial, but I do agree photography is not all about taking photos of a PC Fair show girl dispensing flyers with a super big smile on her face. That could be a good portrait, but definitely nothing about arts. (So there is no world famous artist from Maria's hometown, result of a close minded culture, haha :-)

What really impressing me by this video is those people in Gildn’s photos, regardless whether they were old aunties or Italy mafia members, African Americans or Mexican Americans, all of them can shrug off his interruptions, smile to their lose mind but native appearances and sign release agreements with Gildn's team finally.