Born in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina in 1954, Richard Kern's journey began with a strong foundation in the arts. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1977 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, laying the groundwork for a future filled with creative expression.
Kern's early years in New York City were marked by a vibrant and eclectic community of artists, writers, actors, and bohemians. He surrounded himself with like-minded individuals, including David Wojnarowicz, Lydia Lunch, Nick Zedd, and Lung Leg, all of whom would go on to play significant roles in his work.
With minimal equipment, Kern set out to capture the gritty, drug-ravaged underbelly of 1980s New York City. His film, Manhattan Loves Suicides (1985),is a quintessential example of this type of filmmaking, offering a raw and unflinching portrayal of the city's seedier side.
Kern's magnum opus is undoubtedly Fingered (1988),a hardcore film based on the sex-violence fantasies of Lydia Lunch. This movie stands out for its traditional form and style, differing from his other works. The film follows Lunch's character, a rough-around-the-edges phone sex worker, as she embarks on a destructive journey through the Californian landscape with her real-life lover, Marty Nations. The film features hardcore sex scenes, including one involving a loaded gun, and culminates in a climactic sequence where Nations and Lunch abuse and defile Lung Leg, who claimed to have been tripping on acid throughout the experience.
Beyond his work in film, Kern is also recognized for his photography, which encompasses a wide range of subjects, from cityscapes to hardcore bondage series. Additionally, he has directed music videos for Sonic Youth and Marilyn Manson, further solidifying his reputation as a multifaceted and innovative artist.
