As the award season comes to an end tonight with the Academy Awards, we thought it fitting to feature a new exhibition by the Ryerson Image Center titled, Burn with Desire: Photography and Glamour and Anti-Glamour: Portraits of Women. Most intriguing are the 13 images that photographer Gene Davis took of Marilyn Monroe as she arrives at the 1962 Golden Globes. In none of the pictures does Monroe look into the camera, so there’s a voyeristic quality to these images. These never-before published pictures portray an almost eerily creepy quality to them… the obsession of Mr. Davis at caputring Monroe unguarded seems paramount. There’s an entire section devoted to Marilyn Monroe at the beginning of the exhibition; perhaps because even 53 years after her death, Monroe still exudes an effervescent quality in photographs.
Also fun to view are Annie Lebovitz’s 16 tri-fold covers which she photographed for Vanity Fair’s annual Hollywood editions. Gaëlle Morel, RIC’s exhibitions curator, did the show justice in drawing on several different sources while putting together this thought-provoking show. It’s on display now through April 5th.
For more information, please click on RIC’s site.
Gene Davis, Untitled [Marilyn Monroe at the Golden Globe Awards ceremony], March 1962, gelatin silver print.
One of 13 photos, all in platinum frames, of Marilyn Monroe attending the 1962 Golden Globes in California. Taken a mere 5 months prior to her death, Monroe is escorted by Jose Bolanos.
Image courtesy of: The Globe and Mail
The 16 tri-fold magazine covers that Annie Lebovitz captured for Vanity Fair. Like the rest of the photos, the installation was put together by Eugen Sakhnenko, 2015.
Image courtesy of: Annette and Quebec
