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Ryan McGinley in London
Posted by Eliza Williams, 10 September 2009, 12:55 Permalink Comments (22)
Opening this evening at Alison Jacques Gallery in London is a new exhibition of artworks by Ryan McGinley...
McGinley has been garnering acclaim for his advertising photography of late, but his London show will feature a new series of works shot in caves across North America. The show is titled Moonmilk, which alludes to the crystalline deposits found on the walls of caves, once believed to be formed from the light of celestial bodies passing through the rock to the darkened worlds below.
The exhibition reveals a new direction for McGinley, who is perhaps best known for his compelling and intimate snapshots of his friends partying and hanging out. The cave works are more considered, and appear to have been more of a labour of love, with McGinley eschewing commercial caves to focus on the more trecherous environments of 'wild caves'.
"There is something prehistoric about a cave that makes one feel comfort and impending doom all in one breath," he says. "The air is often thick with dust, humidity and the smell of minerals while the ground is slick clay, or rubble that fell from the ceiling. It is slow going when burdened by the excessive amount of lighting options needed to pull off an eight-hour shoot. Most caves are no more than 50 degrees farenheit inside, while some house ice that stays intact all year round making it a challenge to endure the long exposures and precarious set-ups necessary to shoot with such limited light."
McGinley's exhibition is on at Alison Jacques Gallery until October 8, and a book of the cave photographs has been published by Morel Books to coincide with the opening.
22 Comments
Altho it's clear that these caves are remarkable places, I am strangely unmoved by these photographs. (Well, except for that third one. That thing has some power.) I don't like the way many of them are lit, and when I click through and look at more of them on McGinley's website, I see many that feel kind of Calvin Klein underwear ad-y to me. Sad, that, cos I want to like them, I really do. But really? I don't, much.
2009-09-10 14:28:14
I think the third one is lit like a 50's B-movie
2009-09-10 16:10:04
they're awesome.
2009-09-10 17:11:59
Ryan McGinley is the most overrated and boring one hit wonder ever. Thank god that when everybody realizes all his pictures are the same picture (with a different naked teen) we won't see him anymore. I give him 1.5 more years of undeserved fame.
2009-09-10 23:27:36
I saw the Moonmilk collection last night and when the prints are enlarged they are really impressive and striking as you can get a sense of how gigantic and beautiful some of the caves are. Nice
2009-09-11 10:42:12
The pointless positioning of female bodies in the pictures are less than boring, they are just dumb and spoils the beauty of these caves.
2009-09-11 12:11:19
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRIINNNNNNG
2009-09-11 14:50:20
Does anybody sound a little bitter on here???
For pretty pictures of caves I suggest a subscription to Welsh Caving Monthly.
2009-09-11 15:54:53
I didnt like the show either, I think his early images was stronger. I aslo dont like the way he shoots gilrs and I would love to hear what he has to say about this pieces more than that the light was bad. I want to hear why and what hes thinking about. Mary I dont think people are bitter. People who understand photography, often doesnt understan Mcginley fame. Hes good, but not so special. I also didnt like the flirting with the 70's colors in the images. Felt more like a bad job in Dazed and Confused. Best, Louise
2009-09-12 00:09:54
I'm appalled at the closed-minded comments that people have posted. Can you really not see past the obvious to the deeply uneasy beauty of these strange and otherwordly images? To the person who complained about the pointless positioning of female bodies, I suggest you look again with your prejudicial glasses off, and this time actually SEE.
2009-09-12 03:57:34
They're boys, no?
2009-09-15 10:12:09
Ahaha... the only thing boring and lame thing about this page is the comments by the sad wannabe posers who confuse themselves with people who know better. When are your shows touring the world? These photos are dope!
2009-09-17 12:59:11
lame and predictable. check out purple mag. even worst. with fashion, always a cheap version of hedi slimane's diary.
2009-09-18 00:34:03
This is very similar to some work I saw the other day I forget the ladies name, but the open spaces with a single nude body. Coincidence maybe?
2009-09-18 13:24:10
what a disappointment!!!!! i wanted to like them.
may this phase of his work pass soon
2009-09-29 01:44:27
I think they are awesome and such a breath of fresh air from what other photographers are pumping out. I love themix of fine art and photograhy. He's not just gone into a cave, he's lit them in such an extraordinary way thatt the effect is mesmerising. You have to look past just the imagery and look at the big picture. Mcginley is a superstar in the making andI hope he continues to innovate.
2009-10-03 11:13:44
I don't get it.
2009-10-07 23:47:36
Over rated, over hyped, I'm over it
Typical case of hype beats down feeling.
2009-10-15 21:11:23
I don't get it ..
if you don't like Mcginleys' photos,
then whose you like?
I like Mcginleys photos.
There aren't many others to like,
or?
2009-11-07 01:26:18
Mcginley is awesome. I love these photos
2009-11-09 02:37:42
dissapointed?
Macginley is anwesome. i like his photos.
2009-11-15 14:51:31
mcginley's photos seem to be about the beauty and freedom of youth, nature and the beauty of the human bodies. I think he captured this insanely well. He has such stunning visions which are admirable and inspirational. Thank you Ryan!
2010-02-05 15:05:50
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