Jean-Luc Mylayne's Conceptual Bird Photography at MAC Lyon

The Musée d'art contemporain de Lyon hosted a retrospective of Jean-Luc Mylayne from May 15 to August 2, 2009, curated by the artist and his partner. Mylayne, described by Terrie Sultan of the Parrish Art Museum as a "conceptual French artist," uses photography to explore time through the Greek concepts of aion (duration), chronos (sequence), and kairos (immediacy), with birds as actors in staged scenes. The exhibition, reviewed by Anne Bertrand in art press n°359, reveals Mylayne's process: he composes images by capturing multiple viewpoints simultaneously, reconstructing scenes as the eye perceives them. The first floor features series set in the US and France, highlighting dangers humans pose to nature. A pivotal work, "Le Sceptyque," is a monumental seven-panel vanitas depicting a wounded nuthatch, dry wood, sky, and light. The upper floor presents a more abstract, philosophical project combining birds and apples, exploring signs and symbols. Mylayne's work, championed early by Bernard Lamarche-Vadel, reflects a moralist's critique of perception and human impact.