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‘Arms and legs are very expressive, especially with bruises’: the absurdist photography of Yorgos Lanthimos
Ditched washing machines, a woman’s bare leg, the back of Willem Dafoe’s head … the Oscar-nominated director talks us through his new photography show in Athens – made with his darkroom assistant Emma Stone
TL;DR
- Yorgos Lanthimos has a new exhibition in Athens displaying his personal photographs of Greece.
- His photographs, like his films, are described as absurdist, poignant, strange, and funny.
- The exhibition includes works related to his films, such as portraits of actors and behind-the-scenes shots.
- Lanthimos uses photography as an escape from the pressures of filmmaking.
- Emma Stone assisted Lanthimos in his makeshift darkroom, processing negatives and developing photos.
- Lanthimos appreciates 'mistakes' in photography, like scratches on an image, for adding texture.
- He is taking a break from filmmaking after making three films back-to-back.
- Lanthimos describes himself as shy and finds the realities of filmmaking challenging.
- His photographic series 'No Word for Blue' often features body parts rather than full figures, which he believes are expressive.
- Lanthimos has returned to Greece due to Brexit and aims to slow his pace and focus on intimate photographic works.
- He transitioned from basketball to photography after quitting the sport at 19.