The Art Institute and the Arts Club of Chicago joined forces to bring Jean-Luc Mylayne’s large format bird photographs to Chicago. The exhibition spanned both institutions and even a third structure that was designed by our friends at Wheeler Kearns Architects. The third building is a public space inside Millennium Park. The Art Institute describes the impressive work by Mylayne in such an elegant way that we thought we would share their words.
“Mylayne has devoted four decades to working with common birds as “actors” in a profound investigation of aesthetics and community. The photographs, typically printed at grand dimensions, are each unique and can take months to prepare. Week after week, at a precise place, in a chosen season, Mylayne and his life partner, Mylène Mylayne, set up cumbersome camera equipment and wait until one or more of the individual birds he has previously identified—and who often seem to recognize him in turn—come to occupy the position he had imagined in his picture.”
Jean-Luc Mylayne. No. 560, January/February 2008. The Art Institute of Chicago, restricted gift of Lannan Foundation; through prior gifts of the Vision Gallery, John Szarkowski and Pace MacGill Gallery, Mrs. Daniel Brenner, and Helen Harvey Mills, 2015.73. © Jean-Luc Mylayne. Courtesy of the artist; Gladstone Gallery, New York and Brussels; and Sprüth Magers.
Image courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Jean-Luc Mylayne. No. 524, February/March/April 2007. © Jean-Luc Mylayne. Courtesy of the artist; Gladstone Gallery, New York and Brussels; and Sprüth Magers.
Image courtesy of Louise & Maurice.
Image courtesy of The Lannan Foundation.
