Overview
John Malkovich took time off from being John Malkovich to be Everyone Else for a change. Shot by Sandro Miller in Los Angeles, a new series of photographs dubbed Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich recreate some of the most iconic portraits in recent history — from John and Yoko to Che Guevara, Dorothea Lange's Migrant Woman to Andres Serrano's Piss Christ.
According to the exhibition statement, Miller decided to undertake the project in 2013, wanting to honour the photographers whose work had inspired him and shaped his career. After selecting thirty five images to recreate, Miller got in touch with his ol' mate Malkovich — who apparently immediately agreed. "John is the most brilliant, prolific person I know," says Miller. "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."
All at once creepy and genius with Malkovich rocking an excellent Marilyn and a spot-on Dali, the series is actually less about Malkovich than it is an homage to the photographers responsible for the portraits themselves: Dianne Arbus, Annie Leibovitz, Art Shay, Dorothea Lange, Alberto Korda. That being said, it's supremely satisfying to see Malkovich in dress-up like this — his Jack Nicholson and Albert Einstein are top notch.
Sandro Miller, Albert Watson / Alfred Hitchcock with Goose (1973), 2014
Sandro Miller, Philippe Halsman / Salvador Dalí (1954), 2014
Sandro Miller, Alberto Korda / Che Guevara (1960), 2014
Sandro Miller, Andy Warhol / Green Marilyn (1962), 2014
Sandro Miller, Andy Warhol / Self Portrait (Fright Wig) (1986), 2014
Sandro Miller, Annie Leibovitz / John Lennon and Yoko Ono (1980), 2014
Sandro Miller, Arthur Sasse / Albert Einstein Sticking Out His Tongue (1951), 2014
Sandro Miller, David Bailey / Mick Jagger "Fur Hood" (1964), 2014
Sandro Miller, Herb Ritts / Jack Nicholson, London (1988) (A), 2014
Sandro Miller, Andres Serrano / Piss Christ (1987), 2014
Sandro Miller, Victor Skrebneski / Bette Davis, Actor, 08 November (1971), Los Angeles Studio, 2014.
Sandro Miller, Bert Stern / Marilyn in Pink Roses (from The Last Session, 1962), 2014
Sandro Miller, Art Shay / Simone de Beauvoir (1950), 2014
Sandro Miller, Dorothea Lange / Migrant Mother, Nipomo, California (1936), 2014
Sandro Miller, Diane Arbus / Identical Twins, Roselle, New Jersey (1967), 2014
Sandro Miller, Gordon Parks / American Gothic, Washington, D.C. (1942), 2014
Sandro Miller, Yousuf Karsh / Ernest Hemingway (1957), 2014
Check out Sandro Miller's whole series over here.
Via Artnet.