Mike and Doug Starn Structure of Thought 15 2001-2005 MIS and Lysonic inkjet prints on Thai mulberry, Gampi and tissue papers with wax, encaustic and varnish Gift of the artists
Identical twins Mike and Doug Starn began working collaboratively as teenagers. Their work occupies a unique position within contemporary art practices because it blurs the boundaries between photography, video, installation, sculpture and painting. The Starns recently embarked on a metaphorical exploration of light as a requisite for photography and vision, and as a symbol of enlightenment. Their investigations have led them to create numerous bodies of work in which they feature light as a life force, and draw subtle parallels between the structure of flora and the human body. This image from the Structure of Thought series depicts a branching tree that resembles the microscopic dendrites of neurons in the brain. The Starns are recipients of two National Endowment for the Arts grants (1987 and 1995). Their work is included in collections of several major museums, including the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art.
For more information: (202) 334-2436 or arts@nas.edu