One of the leading figures associated with the controversial yet undeniably influential ‘heroin chic’ trend of the mid-to-late ’90s, Davide Sorrenti’s untimely death at the age of 21 signified the end of an era. Alongside a new documentary chronicling his life (See Know Evil, directed by Charlie Curran), a new exhibition called Our Beutyfull Future at CC Projects in the East Village is showcasing some of the late photographer’s finest work.
In his brief yet prolific career, Sorrenti candidly captured the raw hedonism of the downtown Manhattan circuit with rich images that continue to influence the fashion world 20 years on. Born in Naples in 1976, he started his career in 1994 by photographing his friends around the city, including rising model Jaime King who became a frequent subject of his work. His style was an instant hit for its candor, and his work was quickly published in magazines like i-D, Interview, and Surface and mimicked in Calvin Klein‘s groundbreaking campaign with Kate Moss. His early death is often erroneously cited as the result of a heroin overdose, but Sorrenti had also dealt with a chronic blood disorder for most of his life that ultimately resulted in kidney failure. The exhibition aims to showcase some of his lesser known work and expand upon the narrative on one of the most seminal young photographers of his generation.
Our Beutyfull Future is on display until July 28 at 431 E 6th Street, NY 10009. Check out some of Sorrenti’s work in the gallery above.
