For en god stund siden tipset Sebastian Ludvigsen meg om fotografen Peter Beste, og etter at jeg ble kjent med arbeidene hans har han blitt en av mine favoritt-fotografer. Seriene Houston Rap Culture og True Norwegian Black Metal (sistnevnte resulterte i en bokutgivelse på Viceland) er de mest kjente verkene hans, og akkurat de stilles ut på Oslo Kunstforening lørdag kl. 13.00.

TRUE NORWEGIAN BLACK METAL

In the last two decades a bizarre and violent musical subculture called black metal has emerged in Norway. It’s roots stem from a heady blend of horror films, extreme heavy metal music, Satanism, pagan mythology, and adolescent angst. In the early-mid 1990’s, members of this extremist underground committed murder, burned down medieval wooden churches, and desecrated graveyards. What started as a juvenile frenzy came to symbolize the start of a war against Christianity, a return to the worship of the ancient Norse gods, and the complete rejection of mainstream society.

I have spent the last 7 years photographing in this insulated and secretive community.

My hometown of Houston, Texas, also known as the Third Coast, is a world all its own. This city is responsible for birthing the Geto Boys, UGK (from nearby Port Arthur), DJ Screw, and the codeine-based drink known as Syrup. Producing an uncompromising and innovative sound all their own, many of these artists existed under the radar for nearly twenty years despite a virtual absence of press outside of the deep south. These photographs are my attempt to bring attention to the music, lifestyle and culture of a very exciting time and place.

PeterBeste.com