Richard Mosse is an Irish conceptual documentary photographer. Mosse gained significant attention for his photographs of the war in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo using colour infrared film intended to create a new perspective on conflict. It was also made into a film with cinematographer Trevor Tweeten and composer Ben Frost. This work was published in three publications, exhibited in solo exhibitions, and won the Deutsche Börse Photography Prize in 2014. In 2017 his video installationIncoming, commissioned by the National Gallery of Victoria and the Barbican Art Gallery, made in collaboration with musician Ben Frost and Trevor Tweeten, won the Prix Pictet.
Life and work
Mosse was born in Kilkenny, Ireland. He lives and works in New York and Berlin. He received a first class BA in English literature from King's College Londonin 2001, an MRes in cultural studies from the London Consortium in 2003, a postgraduate diploma in fine art from Goldsmiths, University of London in 2005 and a photography MFA from Yale School of Art in 2008. He has worked in Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Palestine, Haiti and the former Yugoslavia. He is best known for his infrared images from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. For his infrared photographs he used a large format camera and the now-discontinued Kodak Aerochrome film. Aerochrome is a false-color infrared film originally intended for aerial vegetation surveys and for military reconnaissance, such as to identify camouflaged targets. It registers light that can't be seen by humans rendering the grass and trees and soldiers' uniforms in vivid hues of lavender, crimson and hot pink. Critic Sean O'Hagan, writing in The Guardian, said "His images from there often seem to skirt the real and the fictional, simply though their heightened and unreal colours. He has made the familiar seem strange and the real seem heightened to the point of absurdity. This is war reportage – but not as we know it." Willy Staley, writing in the New York Times Magazine, said "Mosse highlights the eastern Congo's natural bounty while acknowledging both the medium's origins and, he points out, the West's tendency to see in the Congo only darkness and insanity."
The Enclave. New York, NY: Aperture, 2013. With an essay by Jason Stearns.
* Paperback.. Edition of 750 copies.
* Boxed set. Edition of 250 copies. Includes a vinyl record with sound and music, designed by Ben Frost; a poster featuring an image by Mosse; a transcription from the film; and a signed-and-numbered copy of the book.
A Supplement to The Enclave. Berlin: Broken Dimanche Press, 2014.. Edited by John Holten. With texts by Chrisy Lange, Patrick Mudekereza and Charles Stankievech and conversations between Richard Mosse and Trevor Tweeten and Ben Frost. Newspaper format.
Richard Mosse Catalogue. Curve Publications. London: Barbican, 2017. With an interview between Mosse and Alona Pardo, and a text by Anthony Downey.
The Castle. London: Mack, 2018. With texts in a booklet by Judith Butler, Paul K Saint Amour, Behrouz Boochani and Mosse.. Second edition, 2019.
Films
The Enclave – a collaboration with cinematographer Trevor Tweeten. Made using 16 mm infrared film transferred to HD video. Shown as an installation comprising multiple double-sided screens installed in a darkened chamber.
Incoming – a collaboration with musician Ben Frost and Trevor Tweeten.
