Doug & Mike Starn

February 21 - March 20, 2004
540 West 26th Street

Press Release

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.

For more information or to view images, please contact us at info@lehmannmaupin.com or 212 255 2923.

Exhibition Works

ATL Film Still 1, 2000-2004 laminated lambda digital c-print mounted on aluminum 38 x 38 inches 96.5 x 96.5 cm Edition of 5 LM7521


Attracted to Light 1, 2000-2003 sulfur-toned and tea-stained silver print on Thai mulberry paper 120 x 252 inches 304.8 x 640.1 cm Edition of 2 LM7511


Attracted to Light G (Grid), 1996-2003 sulfur-toned and tea-stained silver print on Thai mulberry paper 156 x 216 x 4 inches 396.2 x 548.6 x 10.2 cm Edition of 2 LM7509


Attracted to Light 4, 1996-2004 sulfur-toned and tea-stained silver print on Thai mulberry paper 20 x 20 inches 50.8 x 50.8 cm Edition of 10 LM7513


ATL Film Still 2, 2000-2004 laminated lambda digital c-print mounted on aluminum 60 x 80 inches 152.4 x 203.2 cm Edition of 3 LM7525


ATL Film Still 4 (Positive), 2000-2004 laminated lambda digital c-print mounted on aluminum 60 x 80 inches 152.4 x 203.2 cm Edition of 3 LM7529


ATL Film Still 4 (Negative), 2000-2004 laminated lambda digital c-print mounted on aluminum 60 x 80 inches 152.4 x 203.2 cm Edition of 3 LM7533


ATL Film Still 18, 2000-2004 laminated lambda digital c-print mounted on aluminum 21 x 31 inches 53.3 x 78.7 cm Edition of 8 LM7537