Mike and Doug Starn [Paperback]

Andy Grundberg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1990

This major book documents the work of twin brothers whose work with the photograph pushed beyond the boundaries of convention. In an in-depth article by former New York Times photography critic Andy Grundberg, their background, the motivations, and their critical acclaim are described. Critic Robert Rosenblum offers his insights in a detailed introduction, and former Contemporary Arts Center curator Sarah Rogers-Lafferty interview the brothers, asking them to describe their techniques and their dialogues, both between themselves and with their work. Exhibition checklist, biography, bibliography, 92 full color images, 30 black and white images.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"The Starn Twins" are relatively new to the art world yet have been featured in Boston and New York shows and in the 1987 Whitney Biennial, which established them as promising talents and an innovative force. These young men have challenged traditional photography by cutting, tinting, creasing, tearing and reassembling prints. Their emphasis on building up surfaces with layered materials and tape, quoting portions of paintings by old masters such as Rembrandt and da Vinci, and maintaining a beauty in their work reminiscent of romanticism is highlighted in this collection of 92 of their pieces, all reproduced in color. The wonderful prints of finished work and the black-and-white photographs of their Brooklyn studio kindle enthusiasm and admiration. New York Times photo critic Grundberg here interviews the brothers, analyzes the thematic content of their photographic collages and contrasts and compares their work with that of Robert Rauschenberg, Gilbert and George, Joel Peter Witkin and Cindy Sherman.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Their complex and arresting use of multi-media imagery has made the Starn twins the wunderkinds of the contemporary art world. They work as a unit, appropriating and recasting subject matter from a broad pool of art historical sources. Generally they begin with photographic images and add paper, plastic, chemicals, and other elements to treat their composition. Starn topics range from details of organic forms to double takes of persons or objects. They made a stir at the Whitney Biennial of 1987, and New York Times photography critic Grundberg's text continues this adulation on a grand scale: his monograph is a clearcut attempt to anchor their reputations as modern stars of the art scene; an introductory essay by eminent art historian Robert Rosenblum takes a similar approach. Fortunately, the Starn brothers' work is vivid and interesting enough to justify this attitude, and the plates in this book do justice to their collaboration. Recommended for art school libraries and contemporary art collections-- Paula A. Baxter, NYPL
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Contemporary Arts Center (January 1990)
• ISBN-10: 0917562550
• ISBN-13: 978-0917562556
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 10.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,886,186 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Obliquely "Chinese"..., December 31, 2003

By 

Saul Boulschett "Anyway" (Dry land) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Mike and Doug Starn (Hardcover)

I first bought this book over ten years ago when it first came out and the book has given me much food for thought as well as appreciation.
The Chinese have a lot of tall tales about their greatest painters. One of them goes like this: The emperor had heard of the painter/poet "Wong"'s infernal genius and wanted to see it for himself. "Wong" also happened to be world-class boozer. When he was summoned, he was drunk. He tumbled into the palace where the paper, ink, and brush was laid out for him. He lost his balance and kicked the pot of ink, spilling the content all over the paper. OOPS! No problem. The guy just up and started to paint with the spillage and produced, on the spot, something that was good enough to blow away the emperor.
The point of the story, ladies and germs, is this: The Starn Brothers have something of that kind of sensibility and ability. The only difference is, they deliberately kick the inkpot. That is, they accept the finite material condition of their medium and just run with it. Sure the negs are going to fade, wrinkle, even get scratched if you're not super careful handling them. They just said, F- it.
Commonly used expressions, such as, "challenging the convention" or "pushing the envelope", etc., are always unbearably trite, and in this case egregiously so. These guys are not out to do that, I don;t think. They use a lot of images taken from Master paintings, including Rembrandt's portraits and Philippe de Champagne's monumental <Dead Christ>.

The Starn Brothers' work have that mesmerizing quality -- much of that power comes from their own talent to put together the "right" images in new ways. But a part of that power also comes from the classical images themselves. (Apropos to this comment, they also use Picasso's work, but it's not as moving.)

Their work has moved into different realms recently but the core is still there, only more solar. Their work restores faith that there is still so much BEAUTY out there for art to discover, that art in our time does NOT have to be some tiresome social or personal one-liners about how crappy/ironic/unjust/stupid the world is. The discerning eye (prajna), technique (rationality), true love (as opposed to neurosis) for their work: they are all there but without the oppressive mastery and finality. The kinda artists I'd like to have a chat with -- at MY house, even.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Double Whammy, February 14, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Mike and Doug Starn (Paperback)

After seeing Mike and Doug Starn's work in a gallery, I knew I had to have a book of their work. I searched high and low and was finally led to Andy Grundberg's book, a must have for any "Starn Twins" fan. The book opens with an informative yet brief biographical sketch of the brothers, from their childhood days to their years at the "Museum School" where they developed the style they are recognized for today. After a quick peek into the twins' personal history, Grundberg gives us what we really want...their art! With over 100 illustrations (including fold out pages) the book gives the reader more than enough eye candy. The photo-reproductions are crisp and clear and offer a look at work that spans approximately 10 years of the Starn's career. From their portraits and still lifes to their experimental works, Grundberg's book has it all. I would recommend this book to anyone who knows and loves the work of Mike and Doug Starn; it's a classic!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Double Whammy, February 15, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Mike and Doug Starn (Paperback)

After seeing Mike and Doug Starn's work in a gallery, I knew I had to have a book of their work. I searched high and low and was finally led to Andy Grundberg's book, a must have for any "Starn Twins" fan. The book opens with an informative yet brief biographical sketch of the brothers, from their childhood days to their years at the "Museum School" where they developed the style they are recognized for today. After a quick peek into the twins' personal history, Grundberg gives us what we really want...their art! With over 100 illustrations (including fold out pages) the book gives the reader more than enough eye candy. The photo-reproductions are crisp and clear and offer a look at work that spans approximately 10 years of the Starn's career. From their portraits and still lifes to their experimental works, Grundberg's book has it all. I would recommend this book to anyone who knows and loves the work of Mike and Doug Starn; it's a classic!