1Mary Ellen Mark (Philadelphia, 1940-New York, 2015) was more interested in people than photography, the camera was for her a privileged vehicle to immerse herself in the most elusive and difficult lives.
In the famous portrait of her on the set of Apocalypse Now, surrounded by the arms of Marlon Brando, that warmth of hers is transmitted, capable of gaining the trust of any beast.
Mark.
In the picture, Shavanaas Begum with her three-year-old daughter, Parveen.
Apollo Circus.
Goa, India, 1989 Mary Ellen Mark
2Mark served Martin Bell on a platter the documentary Streetwise, starring the Seattle homeless kids she had approached for a Life story.
There he met Erin Blackwell, Tiny, a 13-year-old prostitute whose miserable life (marked by heroin and 10 children) he witnessed for three decades.
In the picture, Tiny in his Halloween costume.
Seattle, Washington (United States), 1983. Mary Ellen Mark
3Mark was a tenacious portraitist whose method of working was the denial of the snapshot versus the stubborn immersion in a point of view.
In the image, group of aquatic exercises.
Saint Petersburg, Florida (United States), 1986 Mary Ellen Mark
4All her work was a demonstration of her non-negotiable look at the poorest, most vulnerable and disadvantaged women.
From the mental patients of the Oregon State Hospital to the missionaries of Calcutta or the prostitutes of the red light district of Bombay.
In the picture, Cayla and Mylee Simmermon, 10 years old (Mylee older by 2 minutes).
Twinsburg, Ohio (United States), 2001. Mary Ellen Mark
With his enormous sensitivity, Mark showed that to be a master of photography the least important thing is sometimes photography.
In the picture, Erin (whose street name had been Tiny), pregnant with Daylon.
Seattle, Washington (United States), 1985. Mary Ellen Mark
6From March 18 to July 31, 2021 you can see the exhibition Mary Ellen Mark: Women's lives, curated by Anne Morin at the Foto Colectania Foundation (Barcelona).
In the picture, the Damm family in their car.
Los Angeles, California (United States), 1987. Mary Ellen Mark
7Circus acrobat girl in her trailer.
Oaxaca, Mexico, 2008. Mary Ellen Mark
8Vera Antinoro, Rhoda Camporato and Murray Goldman.
Luigi's Italian American Club.
Miami, Florida (United States), 1993. Mary Ellen Mark
9Transvestite in her hotel room.
Manhattan, New York (United States), 1968. Mary Ellen Mark
10James and Natasha Gurley.
Valdese, North Carolina (United States), 1990. Mary Ellen Mark
11Laurie in the bathtub.
Ward 81, Oregon State Hospital.
Salem, Oregon (United States), 1976. Mary Ellen Mark
The Women of Elusive Lives of Mary Ellen Mark
2021-03-08T11:22:31.016Z
Photographer Mary Ellen Mark used the camera as a vehicle to get closer to the most vulnerable and invisible realities. An exhibition documents his portraits of women in settings as diverse as psychiatric hospitals, circuses or brothels.
