Patti Smith Interview: First Encounters with Robert Mapplethorpe

In this interview Patti Smith tells the wonderful story of her first encounters with Robert Mapplethorpe, who became her lover and friend, and who is celebrated in her memoir 'Just Kids'.

When Patti Smith shares the story of her first encounters with Robert Mapplethorpe, who was not a famous photographer back then, her feelings are visible to the audience at the Louisiana Literature festival. She also talks about the loss of Robert and calls ‘Just Kids’ a story of unconditional friendship.

Patti Smith (b.1946) is an award-winning American punk rock musician, poet and visual artist, who became a highly influential figure in the New York City punk rock scene with her debut album ‘Horses’ in 1975. Smith fuses rock and poetry in her work, and has been dubbed the ”punk poet laureate” as well as ”the godmother of punk.” In 2007 she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and in 2010 Rolling Stone magazine put her on the 47th place of their list of 100 Greatest Artists. Among her many albums are ’Horses’ (1975), ’Radio Ethiopia’ (1976), ’Easter’ (1978), ’Gone Again’ (1996) and ’Banga’ (2012). Smith is also the author of several books, including ’Woolgathering’ (1992), ’Just Kids’ (2010) – which won the National Book Award and describes her relationship to her lover and friend, photographer Robert Mapplethorpe – and ’M Train’ (2015).

Patti Smith was interviewed by Christian Lund at the Louisiana Literature festival, at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Denmark in August 2012.

Edited by: Honey Biba Beckerlee
Produced by: Marc-Christoph Wagner
Copyright: Louisiana Channel, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, 2012

Supported by Nordea-fonden