Chuck Hits the Road
By Abigail Sebaly
Chuck Close’s Big Self Portrait (1967-1968), which is featured in the Lifelike exhibition, also recently made a sojourn (in postcard form) to Nepal and India. His presence incited a few double-takes and queries from the locals — Who is this smoking guy? Do you worship him?
Chuck Close's "Big Self-Portrait" installed in "Lifelike"; to the left is Duane Hanson's "Janitor" (1973). Photo: Paul Schmelzer
Close said of his portraits in 1970, “I am not trying to make facsimiles of photographs. Neither am I interested in the icon of the head as a total image.” Here Chuck inhabits new places, sometimes a familiar face, sometimes just a man with the mountains.
Chuck having an existential moment with a Pepsi machine in the Delhi airport. Photo: Abigail Sebaly
Chuck on a Spice Jet flight to Kathmandu. Photo: Abigail Sebaly
Chuck, with an interest in telecommunications. Photo: Abigail Sebaly
Chuck trying out the local cigarettes. Photo: Abigail Sebaly
Chuck with the Himalayas and Buddhist stupa in the background. Photo: Abigail Sebaly
Chuck's crowning moment at Tengboche, 12,687 feet, with Mount Everest in the background. Photo: Abigail Sebaly
Chuck with bindi. Photo: Abigail Sebaly
