Miles Aldridge Process 1
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Miles Aldridge
27 July – 12 September 2021 Lyndsey Ingram 20 Bourdon Street London W1K 3PL T. +44 (0)20 7629 8849 E. info@lyndseyingram.com W. lyndseyingram.com
Miles Aldridge Process Vintage Polaroids and Contact Sheets 1999–2018
ly n d s e y i n g r a m
Aptly named ‘Process’, this exhibition of small format photographic works by Miles Aldridge illustrates the artistic journey from initial idea to final image. Through this progression, the image is captured first on Polaroid before being shot on colour negative film. Once processed in his lab, the frames are printed up as contact sheets for the artist to review. After careful edits and annotations, the final image is chosen. Each of these stages is essential to Aldridge’s practice as, unlike most photographers working today, he continues to work with traditional film rather than digitally. A close look at these precursors to his fully realised photographs reveals their own unique character and give us a keen insight into the artist’s working method. The Polaroids and contact sheets included in this exhibition have come directly from the artist’s archive and span over 20 years of his career. Each has been carefully chosen for the insights they offer into some of his most iconic images and because of their own particular beauty, which is often spontaneous and unexpected. This is the first time Aldridge’s contact sheets have been publically shown and we are delighted to be able to include several examples in this exhibition. They are rich with markings, notation, and edits – evidence of the artist’s hand and witness to his creative decision-making. Each sheet tells a story as an image unfolds from one shot to the next – a model’s eyes slowly open and close, a glass is raised and lowered, a diamond ring is fractionally moved to capture the different reflections of light. Moment to moment, we see the gentle shifts and subtle nuances that Aldridge relentlessly refines in pursuit of the perfect image. Once all the film is shot 8
Stella – study, unique Polaroid print, 1999
Foreword
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Immaculée – roll 8561, unique vintage contact sheet with additional markings in chinagraph by the artist, 2007
and the negatives are laid out on the contact sheets, he is able to carefully examine each frame, looking for the particular still that will become the final photograph. Alongside the contact sheets, we have included a selection of Polaroids. These have all been newly released from the studio archive and are included in the forthcoming book – ‘Please, Please Return Polaroid’. This is the second book dedicated solely to Aldridge’s’ Polaroids and contains both recent work and earlier projects. Described by Aldridge as ‘sketches’, the Polaroids offer an intimate glimpse into the early stages of an image’s development, where his experiments with light and composition are laid bare. Seen together in this exhibition, the Polaroids and contact sheets show the balance between consideration and spontaneity embedded in Aldridge’s artistic process. Where an idea is discovered, repeated, refined, and examined until eventually, the final image emerges.
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Sophie Turner – roll 27B Unique vintage contact sheet with additions by the artist, 2017 Signed verso 305 × 255 mm £1,250 + VAT 12
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3-D – roll 3 Unique vintage contact sheet with additional markings in chinagraph by the artist, 2010 Signed verso 240 × 290 mm £1,250 + VAT 15
Route 1 – study II Unique Polaroid print, 2006 Signed verso 86 × 108 mm £950 + VAT 16
Singles – study Unique Polaroid print, 2006 Signed verso 86 × 108 mm £950 + VAT 17
A Dazzling Beauty – roll 2011 Unique vintage contact sheet with additional markings in chinagraph by the artist, 2008 Signed verso 255 × 305 mm £1,250 + VAT 18
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New Utopias – roll 9152 Unique vintage contact sheet, 2018 Signed verso 255 × 305 mm £1,250 + VAT 21
Joy – study Unique Polaroid print, 2004 Signed verso 86 × 108 mm £950 + VAT 22
Stella – study Unique Polaroid print, 1999 Signed verso 108 × 86 mm £950 + VAT 23
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First Impressions – roll 3621 Unique vintage contact sheet, 2006 Signed verso 255 × 305 mm £1,250 + VAT 27
Night Car – study VIII Unique Polaroid print, 2015 Signed verso 86 × 108 mm £950 + VAT 28
Diva – study IV Unique Polaroid print, 2005 Signed verso 86 × 108 mm £950 + VAT 29
Actress – roll 42 Unique vintage contact sheet with additional markings in chinagraph by the artist, 2012 Signed verso 255 × 290 mm £1,250 + VAT 30
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Untitled (after Miller) – roll 37 Unique vintage contact sheet with additional markings in chinagraph by the artist, 2017 Signed verso 255 × 305 mm £1,250 + VAT 33
Lookable Legs – study VIII Unique Polaroid print, 2002 Signed verso 102 × 131 mm £1,100 + VAT 34
Diva – study III Unique Polaroid print, 2005 Signed verso 86 × 108 mm £950 + VAT 35
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Doll’s House – roll 38 Unique vintage contact sheet, 2008 Signed verso 245 × 305 mm £1,250 + VAT 37
Chromo Thriller – frames 41 and 42 Unique vintage contact sheet with additional markings in chinagraph and pen by the artist, 2012 Signed verso 255 × 290 mm £1,250 + VAT 38
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Drive – study I Unique Polaroid print, 2005 Signed verso 86 × 108 mm £950 + VAT 40
Martini – study Unique Polaroid print, 2004 Signed verso 86 × 108 mm £950 + VAT 41
Spot The Fake – roll 18910-36 Unique vintage contact sheet with additional markings in chinagraph by the artist, 2006 Signed verso 305 × 255 mm £1,250 + VAT 42
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Self Portrait – study Unique Polaroid print, 2011 Signed verso 86 × 108 mm £950 + VAT 46
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Hello – roll 1 Unique vintage contact sheet with additional markings in chinagraph by the artist, 2015 Signed verso 260 × 305 mm £1,250 + VAT 49
The Red Lion – study XI Unique Polaroid print, 2012 Signed verso 86 × 64 mm £950 + VAT 50
Red Sausages – study Unique Polaroid print, 2013 Signed verso 86 × 108 mm £950 + VAT 51
Circling The Small Ads (after Miller) – roll 7997 Unique vintage contact sheet with additional markings in marker pen by the artist, 2017 Signed verso 255 × 305 mm £1,250 + VAT 52
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Immaculée – roll 8582 Unique vintage contact sheet with additional markings in chinagraph by the artist, 2007 Signed verso 255 × 305 mm £1,250 + VAT 55
Cracked – study Unique Polaroid print, 2016 Signed verso 108 × 86 mm £950 + VAT 56
Immaculée – study XIV Unique Polaroid print, 2007 Signed verso 86 × 108 mm £950 + VAT 57
Maisie Williams – roll 7A Unique vintage contact sheet with additions by the artist, 2017 Signed verso 305 × 255 mm £1,250 + VAT 58
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New Utopias – study XV Unique Polaroid print, 2018 Signed verso 86 × 108 mm £950 + VAT 60
New Utopias – study XIII Unique Polaroid print with marker pen, 2018 Signed verso 86 × 108 mm £950 + VAT 61
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Extravagant, Sophisticated Lady – study XII Unique Polaroid print, 2011 Signed verso 86 × 108 mm £950 + VAT 64
The Road – study I Unique Polaroid print, 2005 Signed verso 86 × 108 mm £950 + VAT 65
The Rooms – roll 13 Unique vintage contact sheet with additional markings in chinagraph by the artist, 2011 Signed verso 255 × 290 mm £1,250 + VAT 66
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I Only Want You To Love Me – roll 25 Unique vintage contact sheet with additional markings in chinagraph by the artist, 2011 Signed verso 255 × 290 mm £1,250 + VAT 69
Dog Lady – study VI Unique Polaroid print, 2009 Signed verso 86 × 108 mm £950 + VAT 70
Dog Lady – study X Unique Polaroid print, 2009 Signed verso 86 × 108 mm £950 + VAT 71
Gilbert & George – roll 5 Unique vintage contact sheet with additional markings in chinagraph by the artist, 2014 Signed verso 240 × 290 mm £1,250 + VAT 72
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Venus Smiles – roll 45 Unique vintage contact sheet with additional markings in chinagraph by the artist, 2011 Signed verso 255 × 305 mm £1,250 + VAT 75
In a Room – study II Unique Polaroid print with marker pen, 2004 Signed verso 131 × 102 mm £1,100 + VAT 76
Television – study Unique Polaroid print, 2003 Signed verso 102 × 131 mm £1,100 + VAT 77
I Only Want You To Love Me – roll 42 Unique vintage contact sheet with additional markings in chinagraph by the artist, 2011 Signed verso 255 × 290 mm £1,250 + VAT 78
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A Dazzling Beauty – roll 2022 Unique vintage contact sheet with additional markings in chinagraph by the artist, 2008 Signed verso 255 × 305 mm £1,250 + VAT 81
A Family Portrait – study VII Unique Polaroid print, 2011 Signed verso
86 × 108 mm £950 + VAT 82
Actress – study VII Unique Polaroid print, 2012 Signed verso 86 × 108 mm
£950 + VAT 83
In Shadows I Boogie (after Miller) – roll 7976 Unique vintage contact sheet with additional markings in chinagraph by the artist, 2017 Signed verso 255 × 305 mm £1,250 + VAT 84
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The Pure Wonder – roll 2343 Unique vintage contact sheet with additional markings in pen by the artist, 2005 Signed verso 255 × 305 mm £1,250 + VAT 87
Lookable Legs – study VII Unique Polaroid print, 2002 Signed verso 102 × 131 mm £1,100 + VAT 88
Sleepless – study II Unique composite of two Polaroid prints, 2017 Signed verso 86 × 120 mm £1,100 + VAT 89
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Thought After Filthy Thought (after Miller) – roll 8073 Unique vintage contact sheet with additional markings in chinagraph and marker pen by the artist, 2017 Signed verso 255 × 305 mm £1,250 + VAT 91
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The Heist – study I Unique Polaroid print, 2008 Signed verso 102 × 131 mm £1,100 + VAT 94
Cinecitta – study Unique composite of two Polaroid prints, 2009 Signed verso 86 × 142 mm £1,100 + VAT 95
The Pure Wonder – roll 2390 Unique vintage contact sheet with additional markings in chinagraph by the artist, 2005 Signed verso 255 × 305 mm £1,250 + VAT 96
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Immaculée – roll 8561 Unique vintage contact sheet with additional markings in chinagraph by the artist, 2007 Signed verso 255 × 305 mm £1,250 + VAT 99
Five Girls in a Car – study Unique Polaroid print, 2013 Signed verso 60 × 108 mm £950 + VAT 100
Gilbert and George – study IX Unique Polaroid print, 2014 Signed verso 86 × 108 mm £950 + VAT 101
Like a Painting – frame 9623 Unique vintage contact sheet, 2005 Signed verso 145 × 135 mm £1,250 + VAT 102
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Like a Painting – frames 9610 and 9611 Unique vintage contact sheet, 2005 Signed verso 305 × 255 mm £1,250 + VAT 105
New Utopias – roll 9059 Unique vintage contact sheet with additional markings in chinagraph by the artist, 2018 Signed verso 255 × 305 mm £1,250 + VAT 106
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Like a Painting – study VIII Unique Polaroid print, 2005 Signed verso 131 × 102 mm £1,100 + VAT 108
Ophelia – study I Unique Polaroid print, 2016 Signed verso 86 × 108 mm £950 + VAT 109
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Extravagant, Sophisticated Lady – roll 64 Unique vintage contact sheet with additional markings in chinagraph by the artist, 2011 Signed verso 255 × 305 mm £1,250 + VAT 111
I Will Love You Tomorrow – roll 39 Unique vintage contact sheet with additional markings in chinagraph by the artist, 2015 Signed verso 260 × 305 mm £1,250 + VAT 112
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The End – study III Unique Polaroid print with marker pen, 2016 Signed verso 86 × 108 mm £950 + VAT 114
The End – study V Unique Polaroid print with marker pen, 2016 Signed verso 86 × 108 mm £950 + VAT 115
Miles Aldridge rose to prominence in the mid-nineties with his arresting, highly stylised photographs with references to film noir, art history and pop culture. Born in London in 1964, the son of famed art director and illustrator Alan Aldridge, his interest in photography began at an early age when he was given a Nikon F camera by his father. He went on to study graphic design at Central Saint Martins, graduating with a BA in 1987. An acclaimed colourist, Aldridge renders elaborate mise-en-scènes in a palette of vibrant acidic hues. These glamorous, frequently eroticised images probe society’s idealised notions of domestic bliss where sinister undercurrents swirl beneath a flawless surface. Aldridge has worked prolifically for more than thirty years, and today he remains one of the few photographers shooting predominately on film. His creative output encompasses large-scale c-type prints, Polaroids, screenprints, photogravures and drawings.
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Self Portrait – study, unique Polaroid print, 2011
Biography
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Selected Solo Exhibitions
2021
Please return Polaroid, Lyndsey Ingram, London
Process: Vintage Polaroids and Contact Sheets 1999 – 2018, Lyndsey Ingram, London
2015
Virgin Mary. Supermarkets. Popcorn. Photographs
The Pure Wonder, Fahey Klein Gallery, Los Angeles
1990–2020, Fotografiska Museum, New York
A Dazzling Beauty, OCA, São Paulo
2020–21
2014
Virgin Mary. Supermarkets. Popcorn. Photographs
The Age of Pleasure, Christophe Guye Galerie,
1990–2020, Fotografiska Museum, Stockholm
Zurich One Black & White and Twenty Four Colour
2020
Photographs, Reflex Gallery, Amsterdam
The Taste of Colour, Lumiere Brothers Gallery,
Miles Aldridge’s Carousel: Lithograph and
Moscow
Screenprints, Drawings and Photographs, Sims Reed Gallery, London
2019 Screenprints, Polaroids and Drawings, Christophe
2013
Guye Galerie, Zurich
Short Breaths, Brancolini Grimaldi, London I Only Want You to Love Me, Somerset House,
2018
London
This Side of Paradise, Huxley Parlour Gallery,
CAROUSEL, Brancolini Grimaldi, London
London
I Only Want You to Love Me, Steven Kasher
Art History, Reflex Gallery, Amsterdam
Gallery, New York
2017
2010
(after), Lyndsey Ingram, London
13 Women, CONTRIBUTED Studio For The Arts, Berlin
2016
New Work, Brancolini Grimaldi, Florence
Please return Polaroid, Steven Kasher Gallery,
Kristen As seen by Miles Aldridge and Chantal Joffe,
New York
Reflex Gallery, Amsterdam
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2009 Pictures for Photographs, Collette, Paris Pictures for Photographs, Steven Kasher Gallery, New York Doll Face, Hamiltons Gallery, London 2008 Acid Candy, Reflex Gallery, Amsterdam 2007 The Cabinet, Reflex Gallery, Amsterdam
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Like a Painting – frame 9623, unique vintage contact sheet, 2005
Selected Collections
National Portrait Gallery, London Victoria and Albert Museum, London The British Museum, London International Centre of Photography, New York The Davis Museum, Wellesley College, Massachusetts Fondation Carmignac, Porquerolles Palais Galliera Musée de la Mode de la ville de Paris Nicola Erni Collection, Zug
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Published by Lyndsey Ingram 20 Bourdon Street London W1K 3PL T. +44 (0)20 7629 8849 E. info@lyndseyingram.com W. lyndseyingram.com
Designed by Lucy Harbut Printed by Dayfold Images © 2021 Miles Aldridge
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