Examiner: Mick Rock takes his photos to a new dimension of art at CATM Chelsea Continue reading on Examiner.com Mick Rock takes his photos to a new dimension of art at CATM Chelsea

Mick Rock published his book, “Exposed”, which basically chronicles his epic life as one of the preeminent photographers of the rock, punk and pop scene from the 70’s onward, in 2010. That tome packs 200 of his best photographs spanning nearly 40 years, and includes iconic images of some of the music world’s heavy hitters, like David Bowie, Lou Reed, Debbie Harry, Syd Barrett, Queen, and The Sex Pistols. At a private preview of his new work at CATM Chelsea on Tuesday night, Rock has unveiled to the world the new direction he is taking as an artist.

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For my sins in a former life, I’ve been forced to spend an inordinate amount of time with musicians in this life. Of course, I love them.

A camera is a wonderful ally. It requires minimal maintenance and provides entry to a world of endless imagery.

My ambition was not to be a great photographer (though that certainly would have been a worthy stance). It was a lust to embrace anything that startled or energized me.

I am not in the business of documenting or revealing personalities. I am in the business of freezing shadows and bottling auras.

Without the rock ‘n rollers, I would not have developed as an image man.

You want to shock people with a bit of mystery and beauty. That’s my favorite kind of shocking.

I’ve never felt like a voyeur, although I’ve certainly done plenty of looking!

There’s an art to looking back - how to celebrate the past without being entrapped by it. Photographs provide the great physical link.

My allegiance was always to the act. I wanted them to be happy. I wasn’t owned by a magazine or a record label.

I smell pictures more than I see them and I hear pictures more than I can smell them. It’s very habit forming.