{"id":5762,"date":"2025-03-29T21:56:31","date_gmt":"2025-03-29T21:56:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/29\/yorgos-lanthimos-unveils-his-first-photography-exhibition-broadening-his-artistic-scope\/"},"modified":"2025-03-29T21:56:31","modified_gmt":"2025-03-29T21:56:31","slug":"yorgos-lanthimos-unveils-his-first-photography-exhibition-broadening-his-artistic-scope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in-greece.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/29\/yorgos-lanthimos-unveils-his-first-photography-exhibition-broadening-his-artistic-scope\/","title":{"rendered":"Yorgos Lanthimos Unveils His First Photography Exhibition, Broadening His Artistic Scope"},"content":{"rendered":"


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The Oscar-nominated director applies his unique vision to a new medium, delivering a haunting, cinematic perspective beyond the silver screen.<\/h2>\n
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Hunter Schafer photographed by Yorgos Lanthimos, 2024. Courtesy Yorgos Lanthimos \/ MACK.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Yorgos Lanthimos, renowned for his striking visual style and fascination with life\u2019s dark absurdities, has distinguished himself among filmmakers, earning a devoted following and widespread critical praise. His prolific output includes three films in as many years since 2023\u2019s Poor Things<\/em>, starring Emma Stone, which secured him a Best Directing Oscar nomination and Stone a Best Actress win. Yet, alongside his cinematic achievements, Lanthimos has quietly refined another skill: fine art photography, now spotlighted in his debut exhibition and previously featured in W<\/em> magazine. This showcase marks a significant expansion of his creative journey.<\/p>\n

Opening at Mack + Webber 939 gallery in Los Angeles on March 29 and running through May 18, Yorgos Lanthimos: Photographs<\/em> presents works from his two 2024 photography books: i shall sing these songs beautifully<\/em>, captured during the filming of Kinds of Kindness<\/em> in New Orleans, and Dear God, the Parthenon Is Still Broken<\/em>, shot amid Poor Things<\/em> production in Budapest.<\/p>\n

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Margaret Qualley by Yorgos Lanthimos, 2024. Courtesy Yorgos Lanthimos \/ MACK.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While some images nod to his films\u2014featuring stars like Emma Stone and Margaret Qualley in and out of character\u2014they transcend mere behind-the-scenes snapshots, offering a deeper dive into Lanthimos\u2019s eerie, signature universe. What started as a casual habit of photographing film sets has evolved into a serious artistic pursuit.<\/p>\n

\u201cPhotography has become increasingly important to me over the past few years, and I want to focus on it more, especially now that I\u2019m taking a break from filmmaking after three consecutive projects,\u201d Lanthimos shared with W<\/em>. \u201cReleasing a film is a grander endeavor than mounting a photography exhibition, but the thrill and anxiety of unveiling your work to the public feel just as real\u2014whether it\u2019s on a cinema screen or as a print on a gallery wall.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Emma Stone on the set of Poor Things, photographed by Yorgos Lanthimos, 2024. Courtesy Yorgos Lanthimos \/ MACK.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Though the medium is new, Lanthimos\u2019s photographic talent is evident. In 2023, he collaborated with his frequent muse, Emma Stone, in Athens, capturing her in black-and-white portraits for W<\/em>\u2019s Art Issue, inspired by their short film Bleat<\/em>. (This wasn\u2019t their first editorial together\u2014in 2019, he photographed Stone as a quirky dog enthusiast for W<\/em>\u2019s Directors Issue.)<\/p>\n

\u201cA few years back, Yorgos got into film photography,\u201d Stone told W<\/em>. \u201cHe started developing his own prints and even taught me. We began in a makeshift darkroom in his bathroom, but he\u2019s since built a professional setup in his Athens studio. He mostly learned developing from YouTube tutorials.\u201d Lanthimos \u0443\u0442\u043e\u0447\u043d\u0438\u043b (clarified) that a \u201cmaster printer\u201d gave him a 20-minute lesson, but his largely self-taught mastery remains impressive.<\/p>\n

Below, Lanthimos reflects on his photography practice and his inaugural exhibition:<\/p>\n

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Hunter Schafer by Yorgos Lanthimos, 2024. Courtesy Yorgos Lanthimos \/ MACK.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a stunning photo of Hunter Schafer here. It\u2019s one of my favorite portraits I\u2019ve ever taken. It\u2019s tough to pinpoint why\u2014maybe that\u2019s the magic of photography. Her unique presence plays a role, but in that split second of exposure, everything aligned perfectly. Hunter\u2019s been photographed countless times and can transform effortlessly, yet this image feels both stripped-down and powerful. I caught her in a liminal moment\u2014between embodying a character and stepping out of it\u2014and something extraordinary emerged.\u201d<\/p>\n

How does your photography differ from your filmmaking?<\/h4>\n

\u201cTaking photos on set has evolved for me. Early on, it was about preserving memories\u2014snapping scenes, actors in character, or moments for film promotion. But lately, I\u2019ve wanted my photography to stand apart from the films, offering a fresh angle. I\u2019ve started looking beyond the set, exploring the locations we\u2019re filming in and the people around them. It\u2019s become a distinct practice, one that I hope holds its own. I\u2019ve also been photographing outside of film entirely\u2014mostly in Greece and Athens\u2014and aim to build a separate body of work from those soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

What makes these photos special to you?<\/h4>\n

\u201cThese images weave a narrative distinct from my films. With Poor Things<\/em>, there\u2019s the added layer of developing negatives with Emma every night after shooting wrapped. Actors would pause between takes to pose for my large-format camera, or I\u2019d wander behind the massive sets, avoiding the bustle, and capture the raw framework of the worlds we built. For Kinds of Kindness<\/em>, the photos highlight tiny details\u2014characters, actors, people\u2014seen from a new vantage point, while also reflecting the real landscapes we shaped into fictional realms.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Emma Stone by Yorgos Lanthimos, 2024. Courtesy Yorgos Lanthimos \/ MACK.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n