Terry Richardson's Terryworld

Taschen Books does it again, (and by “it” I mean to tell you that they have given us another brilliant and beautiful photo book,) with Terryworld a showcase of the photographs of Terry Richardson.

Richardson may be considered the bad boy of fashion photography, but to many of us, he is simply a hero. His photos reflect the work of an artist, whose art speaks of the experience of his life, (and these days there is far too much posturing and pretension,) but with Terry Richardson you get the real deal. (A special “thank you” to the wonderful Dian Hanson for her heart-breaking and beautifully put together introduction which tells the story of how Terry Richardson became a fashion photographer, for Dian’s editing on the book.)

The book itself is huge. It is like a kinky anvil. You want to leave it out for guests to be shocked at, awed by, and for them to giggle and blush at. (You’ll want to keep it away from the kids though because it is naughty and very sexually explicit, thank god!)

What I love about Terry Richardson, (and I have been aware of his fashion and ad work for many years,) is that his intention isn’t on shocking. That his images might shock some and are explicit is incidental. Richardson, son of famed fashion photographer, Bob Richardson, is a skilled photographer on his own and not concerned about how others digest his work as much as he is documenting the pleasure of life.

Terryworld is not just a sexy coffee table book designed to push the envelope, it’s a big beautiful book that validates the art within by its own class and design.

Taschen, time and time again, supports the work of artists who might otherwise be shunned, and does so in a way to defy being classified as smut.
Terryworld is as important a book today as Henry Miller’s work was in its own day. We need adult material that challenges us and makes us laugh, cry and think. We need to question life and continue to evolve as a free thinking society. Terry

Richardson is a warrior of intellect and art, (whether he likes it or not.)
Sure, there are miles of skin, erect penises, crotch shots, sexually charged acts and random moments of head scratching weirdness, but there is also an endless stream of beauty and happiness in Richardson’s work. Richardson, (who is as naked and on display as his subjects,) is a ringmaster and documenter of pleasure and joy. No one is harmed or violated in Terry Richardson’s work. These are adults who share Richardson’s whimsical lust for life and it shows, and it is beautiful and naughty all at once.

Sadly, the closed-minded and conservative would be quick to label Richardson’s work as pornographic, but this would dismiss a great talent and sharp mind who has enhanced and elevated fashion. Terry Richardson, adored by fashion icons and celebrities, rock stars and models, is deserves respect as a photographer and an artist above all else. He is an inspiration and a visionary.

I have flipped through Terryworld over and over again, and with each time my smile has grown wider. Whether it is pictures of the lovely Kate Moss or Vincent Gallo in a Jesus guise or Terry Richardson naked photographing someone else, there is always a smile and if you pick this book up and display it proudly and freely to your consenting adult friends, you can have that same smile.

Terryworld is the perfect antidote for a stuffy, conservative, faux-moral society that might have forgotten how to have any fun at all. Life is too short not to live in Terryworld.

Terry Osterhout
February 2005