Attracted to Light by Mike & Doug Starn (powerHouse) Reviewed by Tina Maas
Twin brothers Mike and Doug Starn take an interesting look at the forces that cause moths and other insects to be drawn to light sources with some striking macro images in Attracted to Light.
Article rating: 5.29
Appropriately entitled “Attracted to light”, the latest book by the accomplished photographer duo Mike and Doug Starn concentrates on insects and moths and encompasses many mediums from photography to film and installations. The identical twin brothers work collaboratively from their studio in Brooklyn, New York where their most recent work is suffused with a strong handmade feel and an emphasis on texture. For years the twins patiently explored the nocturnal and ephemeral nature of moths, working on capturing the mysteries and magnetic forces that draw these creatures to light onto film. The resulting intricately detailed macroscopic portraits appear fragile yet darkly mysterious, which stems from the fascination imbued in their tattered, powdery and paper thin wings. By coating gelatin emulsion onto handmade Mulberry paper, which they subsequently tone in sulphur, part of the image flakes off during development, which in turn subtly alludes to the brittleness and transient nature of the moth’s existence.
Alongside articles by Vladimir Nabokov, Demetrio Paparoni and Victor Pelevin the book showcases the most intriguing results of their ambitious and laborious project ranging in scale from miniscule to monumental and stretching across various media including video stills and delicate works on paper.
The brittle, earmarked and torn strips of paper resemble the short and battered lives of moths in that they too are lightweight and often pinned to a wall in reminiscence of butterfly collections. Unearthed from darkness and ignorance the magnified moths stare at the viewer bewildered and startled, but when confronted with enormous antlers and gigantic eyes we might return that sentiment and feel we are facing alien monsters in mutual sympathy.
The Starn Twins often create large scale collages made up of up to 150 separate small photographic images glued together, endowing their composite photographs with further meaning. This instils their pieces with a strong craft based element and enhances the textural quality of the work. They took the ancient art form of photography and choose to make the physicality of the materials central to the work, bringing the human touch back to an increasingly mechanical and digital medium.
Articulating the philosophy behind their torn and taped photo-collages the Starn Brothers said: "We want to make the viewer feel the photography, as a painter makes you feel the paint, with drips and brushstrokes." They certainly achieved their aim when an art critic described the quality of their recent work as “the downy, velvety textures, the blurry translucence of various families of moths are rendered so delicately you would be afraid to run your finger across the paper….”
By making the attraction to light their central theme they are consciously referring to the history and invention of the medium of photography itself. The Starn Twins work illustrates a certain element of unpredictability and daring in their art, which makes their approach so unique and successful. Their working method is intentionally susceptible to mistakes, which are happily incorporated and even contribute to the conceptual message of the piece. The overall quality of their photography is very organic, tactile and unconventional and their experimental photographic process is justified by the integration of subject matter and choice of surface medium.
The |Starn Twins are recognized internationally for their contribution to the field of photography and are the recipients of numerous awards and grants for their outstanding and experimental approach. Their work is part of major collections worldwide and has been exhibited widely both in the United States, Europe and Asia. This book is a treat for the lover of eccentric, fine art photography.
SHORT BUT INTERESTING.....WILL BE BUYING THE BOOK! LOVE THE STARN BROTHERS WORK!! WOULD LOVE TO OWN ONE OF THEIR BEAUTIFUL PHOTOGRAPHS...ART WORK!!
Posted by: theodora demetriades May 4, 2007 @ 11:46 AM EST
they are stupid for taking pictures of moths. i mean COME ON NOW. I bet that they didd't have nothing better to do in thier lifes. RETARDS
Posted by: denise lopez Oct 17, 2007 @ 1:5 PM EST
Dude for reals whoever likes there work needs help or maybe they just have mental issues. 4-REALZ
Posted by: denise lopez Oct 17, 2007 @ 1:8 PM EST
WHAT FAGS I MEAN WHO THE HELL IN THEIR RIGHT MINDS WOULD EVER EVER EVER WANT TO FREAKIN' TAKE PICTURES OF STUPID MONTHS?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! WHAT THE HELL DID THEIR PARENTS DROP THEM ON THEIR HEADS A FEW TIMES WHEN THEY WERE BABYS?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? OR MAYBE IT'S JUST THAT THEY ARE MENTALY CHALLENGED
Posted by: denise lopez Oct 17, 2007 @ 1:11 PM EST
People i mean come on now you really think that thier work is that goog. Whoever thinks that must besmoking that STUFF.Or doing that DOPE okay you heard me. HOLLA
Posted by: Naima wilkinson Oct 17, 2007 @ 1:11 PM EST
THIS IS SOME OF THE BEST WORK THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY WHOLE EXISTANCE. THEY ARE SO TALENTED. AND THEY ARE SO FREAKING HOT. LIKE OMFG YOU GUYS THEY ARE HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Samantha montoa Oct 17, 2007 @ 1:15 PM EST
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! finally people who understand what i like to take picturesof i'm such a big fan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11 i mean who doesn't like moths????? they are so purtty because i always look at them under a microscope to see what they look like close up. YAY STARN BROTHERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: JAKE ROBIONSON Oct 17, 2007 @ 1:17 PM EST
Hey peoples it's paris hilton i just want to say that the starn brothers are so HOT.Like totally.You just have to understand where they are coming from.I mean they take pictures of moths because they want to show comparison(i learn't that word yesterday) of moths to people because the moth is calm and relaxed in the day but at night they break free(sorta like what i did from prison).I just want to say to my fans that they are great photographers and sorry about my last sex tape it was really horrible
Posted by: Paris Hilton Oct 19, 2007 @ 12:23 PM EST
Like i love the starn brothers they're SO MAJORLY CUTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! like i'm so lucky to be able to write on this because me and the starn brothers are like peas in a pod because we love moths. i mean moths are like my favorite animal in the whole world and i just wish that i could cudle with them all day everyday. Moths are just about the best, cutest, most love able animals in like ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I like so totally love myself for loving the brothers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! don't forget to e-mail me @ .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... i_am_hot_YAY_ME!@aol.com (i'll be waititing 4 u tomorrow at the mall in california. you know the one with the shiney thing on top)
Posted by: Jessica Simpson Oct 19, 2007 @ 12:28 PM EST
hey people this is the first time that i used a computer and i love it
Posted by: porch monkey Oct 19, 2007 @ 12:29 PM EST
I'M THE FAYGIT THAT OH WAIT I SPELLDED MY NAME WONG HAAHAHAHAHAH MAN I'M SO RETARDED I MEAN I'M SO STUPID I MAKE A PROSTETUTE (OPPS I SPELLDED SOMETHING WONG ANODER TIME) LOOKED SMART. HAHAHAHAAH MAN I CRACK MESELF UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OS WELL HEY THAT O MAKES ME THINK OF CHEERIOS! YAY CHERRIOS I'M GONNA GO EAT SOME CHERRIOS BYE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Fagit that loves moths Oct 19, 2007 @ 12:37 PM EST
they took those pictures on the porch of there houses in upstate new york
Posted by: zero838 Nov 26, 2007 @ 11:38 AM EST
I have a lot of respect for the Starns' work. I think "Attracted To Light" is a beautiful series. Who cares what the subject matter is? Would you rather they took photos of PEOPLE?! The photos they have taken of moths are beautiful photos and their presentation of them just accentuate that beauty. How dare any of you insinuate that they have some kind of mental handicap or are "fags" because of their work or suggest that's it's a BAD THING. Some of you people just make me SICK.
Posted by: James Mar 16, 2008 @ 10:30 PM EST
OMG!!! that is so untotally hot! Don't be mad at me cause i told it like it is.Your probably like the stupid Starn brothers(a mental handicap "FAG")
Posted by: Paris Hilton Mar 25, 2008 @ 12:47 PM EST
yeah
so i just got back from teh shadow realm. and i saw these pictures
they're breath taking.
just kidding fooled you.
i love paris hilton oh my god. PARIS PLEASE MARRY ME
and f moths. thay're gaaaayyyyy
Posted by: yu-gi-oh Mar 25, 2008 @ 3:21 PM EST
LOL omg. That dude James Mar is such a moron omg. What kind of idiot actually likes this crap? He must be really mentally disturbed or something. MM. Yeah.
Kbye
Posted by: Brittani Rukstela Mar 25, 2008 @ 3:27 PM EST
seriously chill out and stop using websites as your own freakn chatroom, appreciate the Starn Brothers for their incredible talent and try to understand their perspective on the subjects they use in their art. Get over your jealously and give them the credit they deserve you homos
