Duane Michals is a 20th-century photographic maverick whose legendary legacy has opened the medium to the surreal, experimental, and even metaphysical.
He is best known for his disjointed, frame-by-frame sequences, use of text, and multiple exposures that create a highly distinctive style reflecting his philosophical musings and poetic approach to photography.
Michals defied conventions since he began his creative journey in the 1960s, a time heavily influenced by photojournalism, manipulating the field of photography to communicate narratives that are often tragic and humorous all at once.
Michals once said, “To photograph reality is to photograph nothing,” hinting at the intangible dimension to which he has always aimed his camera.
The Château Cramirat Collection is a treasure trove of art and design by philosopher Anna Ravitzki and designer Dan Alexander, housed in a 12th-century Templar landmark in the Valley of Mankind, Périgord, France.
Michals, Duane (photographer). Paris Stories and Other Follies (exhibition catalog). New York: Sidney Janis Gallery, 1992. First edition.
