Rankin, Damien Hirst ‘Myth’ collaboration to debut in L.A
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Fashion photographer Rankin, and skull-bedazzling artist Damien Hirst have chosen Los Angeles as the place for the world debut of a collaboration titled ‘Myth, Monsters and Legends.’
The photo exhibition, which opens at the Rankin Gallery Los Angeles on Oct. 13, leverages the duo’s artistic skills to update, re-imagine and breathe creepy but beautiful life into assorted Greco-Roman mythological beasties including Medusa (above left) and Cerberus (portrayed by Hirst himself).
In addition to the artists themselves (who are apparently longtime friends), the third person whose presence can be felt throughout is model Dani Smith (she’s the one portraying the heavy- lidded Gorgon above), whom, as Hirst says in the press release announcing the show, he’d originally met through another photographer by the name of Sante D’Orazio, and has since become one of his favorite
subjects. (Hirst cast her in the U2 music video for ‘Even Better Than the Real Thing’ that is included in the current leg of the band’s 360 tour.)
‘In my show, she’s supposed to be an unobtainable beauty that an art collector tries to possess. He commissions artists to make sculptures of her -- as a sun god and a centaur,’ Hirst explained.
The show makes its world debut with a private viewing on Oct. 12, opens to the public the following day, with a similar exhibition scheduled to open at London’s Annroy Gallery a week later.
And, while the model in the myths may remain an unobtainable beauty, reminders of it aren’t -- since a book version of ‘Myths, Monsters and Legends’ is slated for release on Oct. 20.
‘Myths, Monsters and Legends,’ Oct. 13 to Nov. 5, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday at Rankin Gallery Los Angeles, 8070 Melrose Ave.
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-- Adam Tschorn