Artists push boundaries. Jean Painlevé, a French photographer and filmmaker born in 1902, was no exception. The artist specialized in the presentation of coastal flora and fauna, presenting his subjects in both full and microscopic scale with accompanying descriptions. His works are eerie, detailed, and beautiful; they occupy a liminal space between the factual and the open-ended, documentation and art. It’s not surprising that the internationally acclaimed specialist looked to Surrealist principles as inspiration for his work. Painlevé juxtaposed critical scientific study with a nonconformist spirit. As he was known to say, “science is fiction.” —Thalia Bonas

Travels to: FotoMuseum, Zurich (October 29, 2022 – February 12, 2023)