David Dundas
John Malkovich is an iconic 61-yer-old American actor, director, producer, and though some of you may not know, he is also a fashion designer. Malkovich has what one would politely describe as a remarkably memorable face; he has that ‘lived in’ look about him that makes him more of a man’s man than one of Hollywood’s ‘pretty boys’. As a character actor he is second to none, having been nominated for an Oscar for his role in In the line of Fire, as well as other nominations for Juno, one of the cleverest rites-of-passage films you will see, The Killing Fields about the Cambodian Genocide, and of course the synonymous Being John Malkovich. Perhaps fortunate in his acting ability, but also for having a face you could never typecast, Malkovich has played roles across the board from comic to chillingly frightening, and everything else in between. However, during his career he has become a favorite subject of the professional American photographer, Sandro Miller, professionally known as just Sandro, who is well-respected as one of the best advertising photographers around.
Miller and Malkovich met in the 1990s when Miller was taking photographs for Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago, where Malkovich was involved. Over time they have collaborated on a number of projects, with their most current being titled Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich: Homage to photographic masters. In short, Miller decided to assemble a collection of 35 of the most iconic and influential photographs of people that had shaped his career, and then recreate them with Malkovich in the ‘led role’. When talking to the Catherine Edelman Gallery Miller says “John is the most brilliant, prolific person I know. His genius is unparalleled. I can suggest a mood or an idea and within moments, he literally morphs into the character right in front of my eyes. He is so trusting of my work and our process… I’m truly blessed to have him as my friend and collaborator.” The results speak for themselves and can be seen at the Edelman Gallery between November 7th 2014 and 31st January 2015.
