Capturing the Abysses of American Everyday Life: An Interview with Gregory Crewdson
by Theresa Moosmann 🗓️ January 10, 2023
- Everyday Life in America Riddled with Divides
Embrace contradictions and the in-betweens – that's the philosophy of American photographer Gregory Crewdson. For over 40 years, this accomplished artist has been capturing breathtaking, profound, and thought-provoking scenes that draw you into the depths of human emotion, often set against the backdrop of quaint American small towns.
Recently, a monograph of his works, edited by Walter Moser, was published, showcasing an unforgettable collection of images that channel the mysteries and complexities of everyday life. The monograph accompanied Crewdson's retrospective at the Albertina Museum in Vienna last year, offering a glimpse into his mesmerizing interpretation of American life.
Shunning Modernity in the Quest for Timelessness
Family, love, loss, and the inexplicable – these themes resonate throughout Crewdson's entire body of work. Despite his constant exploration and evolution, he intentionally avoids contemporary elements like smartphones and modern cars, preferring to create images that transcend time and remain relevant in the future.
"I feel that the psychology of my images also has something to do with my own psychology," shares Crewdson. "Longing, calm, distance, and sadness are feelings often present in my work. I look into everyday life and try to find something important, beautiful, and significant."
Forever Seeking the Ultimate Meaning
The monograph encompasses Crewdson's nine bodies of work, each taking months of planning and involving up to a hundred other people, including actors and technical specialists. The series range from his most notable works, such as Twilight (1998-2002) and Beneath the Roses (2003-2008), to his latest series Eveningside (2021-2022).
"One can never finish representing the world," Crewdson says in a conversation with the Albertina Museum. "Every image can only hint, so one must keep making more images. One must keep searching continuously for the ultimate meaning – even if it always remains beyond our human reach."
GREGORY CREWDSON
Edited by Walter Moser
280 pages hardcover, published by Penguin
49 Euro
See More of Crewdson's Gallery
Delve deeper into Crewdson's work by visiting our Photo Gallery, his Lifework, Artist page, or take a virtual trip to Vienna, where his breathtaking images are currently on display.
References:
- Art in America, "Gregory Crewdson: What's Next?"
- The Guardian, "Generation X: The Best Photography Books of the Noughties"
- Hyperallergic, "Gregory Crewdson's Rethought Suburban Spaces Mimic the Theatre Stage"
- The Washington Post, "See how Gregory Crewdson's photography captures the uncanny quiet of the pandemic"
- The New Yorker, "Gregory Crewdson's Dreamlike Moods"
- The monograph edited by Walter Moser, which features Gregory Crewdson's profound photographs, was published recently, showcasing a collection that delves into the complexities of community and employment policies as portrayed in his thought-provoking scenes.
- In an interview, during the retrospective of Crewdson's work at the Albertina Museum in Vienna, he mentioned his intention to avoid modern elements like smartphones and modern cars in his photography, aiming to create timeless images that resonate with the profound themes of family, love, loss, and the inexplicable.
- The monograph encompasses Crewdson's nine bodies of work, each meticulously planned with the involvement of up to a hundred people, including actors and technical specialists. This amazing collection, reminiscent of Crewdson's photography style, channels the mysteries of photography and the profound beauty found in everyday life, ultimately serving as a profound commentary on community and employment policies.
