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Apollo

Jean Painlevé

Ikon Gallery, Birmingham

NOW CLOSED

Widely celebrated for his films on marine life, French photographer and filmmaker Jean Painlevé (1902–1989) is a unique figure in the twentieth century arts. This is the first UK solo exhibition of his work. His moving imagery of marine life, in particular, commanded the respect of many renowned avant-garde artists working in 1920s Paris (Luis Buñuel, Sergei Eisenstein, Man Ray and Alexander Calder), at the beginning of a life-long career that almost spanned the twentieth century. This exhibition presents a number of seminal films alongside a selection of photographs and jewellery, exemplifying Painlevé’s passion for making science accessible. Find out more about the Jean Painlevé exhibition from the Ikon Gallery’s website.

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Shrimp Tail greatly enlarged (1929), Jean Painlevé. © Archives Jean Painlevé, Paris

Shrimp Tail greatly enlarged (1929), Jean Painlevé. © Archives Jean Painlevé, Paris

Promotional photograph for Jean Painlevé's seahorse jewellery (1936). Photo: Philippe Halsman © Archives Jean Painlevé, Paris / Philippe Halsman Archive. Image courtesy of Archives Jean Painlevé, Paris

Promotional photograph for Jean Painlevé’s seahorse jewellery (1936). Photo: Philippe Halsman © Archives Jean Painlevé, Paris / Philippe Halsman Archive. Image courtesy of Archives Jean Painlevé, Paris

Female Seahorse (1936), Jean Painlevé. © Archives Jean Painlevé, Paris

Female Seahorse (1936), Jean Painlevé. © Archives Jean Painlevé, Paris

Crab Claw (1928), Jean Painlevé. © Archives Jean Painlevé, Paris

Jean Painlevé with Debrie camera in waterproof box, 1935. © Archives Jean Painlevé, Paris

Jean Painlevé with Debrie camera in waterproof box, 1935. © Archives Jean Painlevé, Paris

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