Lehmann Maupin would like to announce the first New York City exhibition of new work by Doug and Mike Starn in six years, presenting their extensive portrait series of nocturnal moths, the first movement of the Starns' recent investigations into light. Included in the exhibition are large-scale photographs pinned to the wall like moth specimens and hi-gloss, digitally printed film stills.
The images from the Attracted to Light series were captured on the porches of the Starns' homes in upstate New York. To create their distinctive portraits of moths, the Starns use custom-made macro lenses and developed their own specialized printing method in which the silver emulsion softens and minute flakes of the image wash away, mimicking the moths' delicate and tattered wings, while the soft paper echoes their velvety texture. Also presented in the exhibition are hi-gloss, digitally printed film stills derived from footage shot for a 360 degree video installation commissioned by the Bohen Foundation with additional support from the Anderson Ranch Art Center.
This exhibition coincides with the release of their new book, Attracted to Light. To coincide with the publication's release, the artists will sign copies of the book at the Lehmann Maupin Armory Show booth on Friday 12 March 2004 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM, Pier 90, Booth 301.
Doug and Mike Starn, identical twins born in 1961, currently live and work in New York City. The Starns work collaboratively in the territory between photography, video, installation, sculpture and painting. They have had numerous solo exhibitions in museums and galleries internationally and are the recipients of a number of awards including two National Endowment for the Arts Grants (1987 and 1995) and The International Center for Photography Infinity Award for Fine Art Photography. Major works are in the permanent collections of more than thirty prestigious institutions around the world, among them the Museum of Modern Art, New York, the Whitney Museum of American Art, The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and The National Gallery of Victoria, Australia.
From 7 March through 8 August, the Neuberger Museum in Purchase, NY will present Behind Your Eye: An Installation by Doug and Mike Starn.