Marilyn, Björk, and Liza, Through the Lens of Douglas Kirkland

Marilyn Monroe and Douglas, photographed by Douglas Kirkland in Hollywood, 1961

At the pinnacle of photojournalism in the 60s and 70s, Canadian-American photographer Douglas Kirkland somehow made his 2D images multi-dimensional in feeling. Tomorrow, the Morrison Hotel Gallery will present Romance: A Love Letter to The Douglas Kirkland Archive, a curation of limited-edition Kirkland photographs imbued with intimacy, as well as copies of Kirkland’s book, Romance, available with Damiani Books. Hosting the book signing and exhibition is Françoise Kirkland—his wife, collaborator, and enduring muse. Even from the other side of the aperture, she knows how he saw the world was special. “I find it totally irresistible.”

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This book is a love letter to anyone who is as hopeless a romantic as I am. The idea came to me one night shortly after Douglas died. I had gone to the opening of a beautiful exhibition of photographs by Julie Blackmon at the Fahey/Klein Gallery. I was among friends and colleagues, yet I came home overcome with sadness. I realized that the reason for my despair was not just missing Douglas, but the overwhelming realization that he would no longer take pictures. I wanted to crawl under a rock, but instead I spent the night looking through images which spoke to me of love, connection, togetherness. I had no idea where it would take me, but I knew I felt safe.

Photography was Douglas’ first love. He was a dreamer who saw the world better through his camera. He would roll over in the morning, say, “You look beautiful,” and grab a camera in spite of my protests. The erotic tension that sparks desire is something physical–yes, very physical–and yet also mental. There is a part of me which responds violently to beauty and creativity. It is totally out of my control. This provokes stimulation akin to euphoria. Watching my lover like a voyeur, knowing he is not aware, lusting and admiring him for doing what he does with passion, knowing that it has nothing do with me, takes my breath away. I find it totally irresistible. Romance for me is the willingness to surrender with complete abandon. To feel wild, reckless, with a heart full, full of contradictions, full of love, is a state of grace. It is a precious gift, a seductive, intriguing, and slightly dangerous treasure. Plein les yeux, plein la tête, plein le coeur, plein le corps.—Françoise Kirkland

Liza Minnelli and Robert De Niro, photographed by Douglas Kirkland in New York, 1978

Douglas and Françoise, photographed by Douglas Kirkland in Kenya, 1969

Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, photographed by Douglas Kirkland in Paris, 1964

Marilyn Monroe and Douglas, photographed by Douglas Kirkland in Hollywood, 1961

Julie Christie and Warren Beatty, photographed by Douglas Kirkland in Vancouver, 1971

Björk and Jeremy Scott, photographed by Douglas Kirkland in Florence, 1998

Nicolas and Caroline, photographed by Douglas Kirkland in Paris, 1972

Daryl Hannah and Tom Hanks, photographed by Douglas Kirkland in Hollywood, 1983

Douglas and Françoise, photographed by Douglas Kirkland in East Hampton, 1969

Brandy and Brian, photographed by Douglas Kirkland in Hollywood, 1994

Audrey Hepburn and Sean Connery, photographed by Douglas Kirkland in Spain, 1975

Jesus Garcia and Lisa Hopkins, photographed by Douglas Kirkland in New York, 2002

Grace Jones, photographed by Douglas Kirkland in Los Angeles, 1986

Marilyn Monroe and Douglas, photographed by Douglas Kirkland in Hollywood, 1961