Is Las Vegas, the capital of the Western entertainment complex, also set to become the capital of art? A large number of artists live there or visit often, Venice was partially reconstructed there, and the Bellagio resort and casino house an art collection that includes El Grecos and Picassos promoted as if they were Frank Sinatra or the Beach Boys. At this historic moment, art is losing the visionary power to which it used to lay claim and is instead drawing closer to the forms of the entertainment industry, from lifestyle and game shows to Hollywood cinema and music videos. In a paradoxical turn of events, the society of the spectacle has become a reality and Las Vegas is becoming the capital of the future culture industry. Dave Hickey and art historian Libby Lumpkin moved to Las Vegas in the early 90s. For Hickey, the Strip has served as a platform for his critique of the elitist and purist structure of values within the art world. In 1992, Denise Scott Brown, Robert Venturi, and Steven Izenour published Learning from Las Vegas, providing a seminal and radical reevaluation of the vernacular architecture of what was then one of America's most culturally neglected cities.

Magic Hour, The: The Convergence of Art and Las Vegas

Arts & Photography

Reed, David

Hickey, Dave

DUCHAMP, MARCEL

Pettibon, Raymond

Batchelor, David

Shaw, Jim

Carson, Karen

LIberace

Isermann, Jim

Vallance, Jeffrey

Acres, Reverend Ethan

Lumpkin, Libby

Argent, Philip

Bavington, Tim

Callister, Jane

Chen, E.

Hilton, Jane

Otto-Knapp, Silke

Reynolds, Victoria

History & Criticism

Hatje Cantz Publishers

Dead Eagle Trail

Photography & Video

Schilt Publishing

Jane Hilton first encountered Madam Kitty’s Cathouse in 1998. In 2000 she was commissioned by the BBC to make ten documentary films in this brothel and one other close by, both situated in Nevada, U.S.A. These films took three years to make. In 2012 Jane decided to return with her plate camera.Although prostitution is one of the oldest professions that have been made legal in Nevada, it is still not socially acceptable. Precious is a collection of intimate nude portraits of working girls and their stories. This book gives the viewer an opportunity to leave behind any preconceptions. The women are from different cultural backgrounds, ages and body shapes, which also challenge the traditional idea of beauty.By choosing to photograph the girls with a plate camera that took hours of their patience, it became a very bonding experience. As issues about their own body shapes became apparent, their own feelings about their journey as a working girl was also enlightening. In some cases this became a very positive and cathartic experience. Jane was privileged to be allowed to stay in many of the brothels, which contributed to the trust these girls have given her.“Precious” is defined as something of “unique value” or someone “dear or beloved”. What people consider as precious is entirely subjective though, as is of course beauty.

Precious

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