Philip Holsinger
The Standoff (1/10)
2022

About the Item

Edition 1 of 10 "The Standoff" is a photo taken by photojournalist Philip Holsinger near San Miguel de Allende, Mexico during a traditional bullfight. It is printed with matte-ink on cotton paper and framed in antique gold frame. "The Matador" Series Artist Statement: In 2020, when the world shut down, I was in Mexico to learn about bullfighting. Two of Mexico's most famous matadors were fighting bulls for a private audience at a private ranch over a series of weeks. Out of sight of press and government since all bullfighting worldwide had officially been halted due to the pandemic. I was invited to go through the intimate process of the matador's training and his ceremonial preparation for death. I have a deep affection for nature and especially animals, but I have never liked the hunt because I have no stomach for that kind of a kill. And yet I am drawn to ritual and especially to blood ceremonies and have pursued them around the world. It has been the sacred that has attracted me. When I was invited to be with the matadors, it was because of my background as a photojournalist and approach to the sacred. Nothing is more sacred than blood, the circulator of life. And at its core, the ceremony of the bullfight is a ceremony forcing us to confront the reality of life and death. "Fellow traveler, do not judge me by the standards of your culture or religion. Judge me according to my own." About the Artist: "I can't stage a photograph. Because it's not real. Life itself has to present that moment. So, I'm just waiting for it." Philip Holisinger is a photojournalist capturing the conflict, beauty, and soul of the world's most volatile environments. He has traveled the world documenting the aftermath of the Bosnia genocide, the war on drugs in southeast Asia, and the plight of fringe peoples such as the Nicaraguan Miskito Indians. As a fully immersed, Gonzo-style journalist, Holsinger keeps close ties at street-level in the countries where he works, developing deep assets and relationships. He spent three years living in Cite Soleil, Haiti, documenting the social and ethnographic effects of the government's national development projects. He recently completed his third expedition with the Tusheti Shepherds on their 155-mile migration through Georgia's Caucasus mountains. Holsinger now lives in Tennessee as he continues work on the award-winning "We Are Nashville" project, a vast exploration of the city's identity that began in 2017. "Ultimately, I don't want to tell anybody anything." says Holsinger, "I want to do my best to be faithful and give them the parts so that they can come experience it with me." Holsinger works primarily through private contract reporting showcasing his work in mixed-media, immersive exhibitions and original works of journalism.

Creator:

Philip Holsinger (American)

Creation Year:

2022

Dimensions:

Height: 37 in (93.98 cm)Width: 43 in (109.22 cm)Depth: 2 in (5.08 cm)

Medium:

Archival Pigment

Movement & Style:

Contemporary

Period:

2010-