David LaChapelle: The Rape of Africa is a focused hardcover exhibition publication released by Reflex Amsterdam in 2009 for LaChapelle’s exhibition at Reflex Amsterdam. The book centers on The Rape of Africa, one of LaChapelle’s most politically charged works, inspired by Botticelli’s Venus and Mars and transformed into a contemporary tableau about conflict, beauty, exploitation, and global consumption.

Inside, the 36-page full-color book presents the artwork and supporting texts that examine LaChapelle’s mix of fantasy, glamour, social criticism, and art-historical reference. The publication includes contributions connected to Colin Wiggins of The National Gallery, Wim Pijbes of the Rijksmuseum, Fred Torres, and Patrick Toolan, offering context around the image’s references to war, child soldiers, colonial extraction, material desire, and the uneasy relationship between beauty and violence. Published in English and Dutch, this compact Reflex Amsterdam edition is a collectible title for fans of David LaChapelle, contemporary photography, and socially critical art books.

Author: David LaChapelle

Format: Hardcover

Language: English, Dutch

Pages: 36 pages

Size: 24 × 30.5 cm / 9.5 × 12 in

Published: July 2009

ISBN: 9789071848070

Publisher: Reflex Amsterdam