Yorgos Lanthimos Unveils Absurdist Photography Exhibition in Athens
In the heart of Athens, a new cultural landmark has emerged, not as ancient as the Parthenon but equally captivating. This temple-like structure houses the personal photography collection of acclaimed director Yorgos Lanthimos, offering a unique glimpse into Greece through his absurdist lens. The exhibition, titled "Yorgos Lanthimos: Photographs," runs at Onassis Stegi until 17 May, showcasing works taken over recent years as he wandered his homeland.
Exploring Greece Through an Auteur's Eye
The images on display reveal Lanthimos's distinctive perspective, blending poignancy, strangeness, and humour. One photograph features a coffin leaning against a wall beside a mop, while another shows horses with their heads obscured by trees. A roadside memorial sits under a danger sign, with a wiggly road symbol pointing skyward, suggesting a journey to the afterlife. Lanthimos describes this piece as dark, nuanced, and open to interpretation based on the viewer's mood.
"How you view it depends on your mood," Lanthimos explains. "You might laugh one day and ponder its meaning the next. That ambiguity is why I love it." This emotional clash mirrors the experience of watching his films, such as "Poor Things" and "Kinds of Kindness."
Collaborative Darkroom Sessions with Emma Stone
Lanthimos's photography often serves as an escape from the pressures of filmmaking. He shares that Emma Stone, his frequent collaborator since "The Favourite," joined him nightly in a makeshift darkroom during the filming of "Poor Things." Together, they processed negatives in his hotel bathroom, finding the activity meditative and calming after tense days on set.
"Developing photos calmed us," Lanthimos recalls. "It became a focused ritual that helped us unwind." Stone reportedly felt guilty after accidentally scratching a photo, but Lanthimos embraced such imperfections, noting that scratches added texture to minimalist images like a seascape with repetitive white marks.
From Film Sets to Intimate Portraits
The exhibition includes works connected to his movies, such as portraits of stars like Mark Ruffalo and Jerrod Carmichael, alongside behind-the-scenes shots of lighting rigs and props. For "Kinds of Kindness," Lanthimos created images inspired by American photographers Lewis Baltz and Henry Wessel Jr., featuring unconventional subjects like the back of Willem Dafoe's head or Emma Stone's shadow.
His new book, "Viscin," contains photos from last year's "Bugonia," though he insists it has little to do with the film. At the gallery entrance, a dome-shaped building is paired with an image of Stone's similarly shaped head, highlighting his playful approach.
Embracing Mistakes and Body Parts
Lanthimos appreciates photographic errors, as seen in scratched prints that enhance tactility. His series "No Word for Blue" focuses on Greece with minimal human presence, often depicting limbs or distant figures. A photo of a bruised leg exemplifies his fascination with body parts as expressive elements.
"Arms and legs are very expressive, especially with bruises or marks," he says. "They tell stories differently than faces, urging viewers to imagine the rest." This theme aligns with his films' exploration of physicality.
Personal Reflections and Future Plans
Despite his success, Lanthimos admits to shyness, which complicates photographing strangers. He plans to address this with help from others. After three consecutive films, he is taking a break from cinema, uncertain of its duration, to reconnect with Greece and focus on photography.
Brexit influenced his return to Athens, making life in London more complicated. Now, he finds beauty in Greece's contradictions, transforming once-dismissed elements into unique artistic subjects. The exhibition invites audiences into his intimate world, blending absurdity with personal insight.
