Josh Brolin's "Dune: Exposures" Brings Poetry and Photography to London
Josh Brolin, known for his intense roles in films like No Country for Old Men and Avengers: Endgame , is now channeling his creative energy into the world of poetry, with a touch of pretension, as part of the exhibition Dune: Exposures . While the Dune franchise, both in its original literary form and cinematic adaptations, is already laden with high-concept storytelling and grandiose imagery, this new endeavor takes it a step further, blending photography and Brolin’s self-conscious poetry. The exhibition has recently made its way to London, where it invites visitors into the world of Dune through Brolin’s eyes, capturing moments from the set of Dune: Part Two through Greig Fraser’s cinematography.
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If you haven’t heard of Dune: Exposures , it’s not just a coffee-table book, but rather, an “exploratory artistic memoir” as the promotional material calls it. Released earlier this year, the book presents behind-the-scenes images from the set of Dune —beautifully captured shots of actors like Timothée Chalamet and Florence Pugh, paired with Brolin’s poetic musings. However, these poems are less about traditional verse and more like the kind of self-aware, abstract writing that might pop up in the most indulgent corners of a film studio's creative meeting. For instance, Brolin describes Chalamet’s cheekbones as if they are “youth-laden eyes” traveling down to “lips of a certain poetry.” It’s the kind of flowery prose that can feel a bit forced, and at times, it seems like something ChatGPT might produce if asked to describe a movie star through an overly romanticized lens.
And it doesn’t stop there—one of the more striking moments in the book features Florence Pugh making a playful face, which leads Brolin to muse about “her cells preparing for a thinner air, a higher ground.” It’s a poetic stretch, considering the image is of a woman simply goofing around on set. Yet, there’s a certain allure in the combination of candid, spontaneous photography with these elaborate poetic descriptions. It’s as if the images are being given a layer of significance, an attempt to elevate the everyday moments of a film set into something profound and artistic. Whether or not this is successful is up for debate, but there’s no denying the boldness of the undertaking.
This exhibition, now housed at Frieze No 9 Cork Street in London, brings these photos and poems out of the pages of the book and into the realm of live art. It’s one thing to read these words, but to stand in front of them at an exhibition—surrounded by people trying to decode their meaning—creates an entirely different experience. Some might attend out of genuine appreciation for the art, while others may be hoping for a selfie with Brolin himself, in full Thanos gear, of course. Regardless of the motivation of the crowd, the whole endeavor feels like one grand, beautiful indulgence of Dune 's already self-important tone.
But let’s be fair to Brolin and Fraser: the photos themselves are undeniably stunning. Dune ’s vast desert landscapes and otherworldly sets lend themselves to visuals that feel truly cinematic, and these images manage to capture that essence. Even the poetry, despite being overly grand, fits the larger-than-life world of Dune . After all, this franchise is known for its sweeping scale and ambitious storytelling, so why not allow its behind-the-scenes documentation to be just as lofty?
In the end, while Dune: Exposures may be met with some eye-rolls, it’s hard to deny that it fits the spirit of the Dune universe. The sheer audacity of mixing high-minded poetry with star-studded photography is part of what makes the exhibition so fitting. In a world that takes itself so seriously, Dune: Exposures is a continuation of that tradition—a project that pushes the limits of artistic pretension. Whether it succeeds or fails in achieving its lofty goals, it certainly does not shy away from them. And frankly, that’s what makes it interesting to watch.
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