Jan Staller's 'Manhattan Project' Captures Construction as Readymade

Jan Staller's latest publication, 'Manhattan Project' (2025), released by 5 Continents Editions, marks a departure from his previous atmospheric night scenes to a sharp examination of construction elements such as pipes, beams, rebar, and drill bits set against stark white skies. This collection, photographed at construction sites on the Upper West Side, reimagines functional items as near-readymades. Utilizing overcast skies as minimalist backdrops, Staller takes advantage of the limited dynamic range in both film and digital formats for artistic expression. The book features a foreword by Neil deGrasse Tyson and an essay by curator Brett Littman, drawing connections to artists like Edward Hopper and Ed Ruscha. One notable image, 'Glove' (2024), depicts an orange-gloved hand holding steel cable, while Staller's 'rebar drawings' transform three-dimensional bars into flat geometric designs, continuing his 50-year inquiry into humanity's impact on the environment, blending beauty with arrogance.