It's a criminal trial, the photos were polaroid photos taken by Dahmer himself (according to a few websites) submitted into evidence, evidence is in the public record unless it is barred from the public for some reason. Wisconsin, where the trial took place, does not have such a prohibition (California does for example). That is why Gerbeth could publish them in the first place. Dahmer is the most famous cannibal of the 20th century and he was all over the news at the time - if this artist was interested in that sort of stuff, she could have certainly gotten photos with no issue with a relatively simple request.
But yes, I agree time is better spent elsewhere than on this artist.
Edit: The artist has also done previous works about cannibalism, for example "The Destruction of the Father," so it is clearly an idea she's interested in.
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JrSlimss ago
It's a criminal trial, the photos were polaroid photos taken by Dahmer himself (according to a few websites) submitted into evidence, evidence is in the public record unless it is barred from the public for some reason. Wisconsin, where the trial took place, does not have such a prohibition (California does for example). That is why Gerbeth could publish them in the first place. Dahmer is the most famous cannibal of the 20th century and he was all over the news at the time - if this artist was interested in that sort of stuff, she could have certainly gotten photos with no issue with a relatively simple request.
But yes, I agree time is better spent elsewhere than on this artist.
Edit: The artist has also done previous works about cannibalism, for example "The Destruction of the Father," so it is clearly an idea she's interested in.