Photographs by Gregory Crewdson

Gregory Crewdson, Untitled from the series Twilight, 2001-2, © Gregory Crewdson

'I have always been fascinated by the poetic condition of twilight. By its transformative quality. Its power of turning the ordinary into something magical and otherworldly. My wish is for the narrative in the pictures to work within that circumstance. It is that sense of in-between-ness that interests me.'  Gregory Crewdson

Gregory Crewdson, born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1962, reworks the American suburb into a stage-set for the inexplicable, often disturbing, events that take place at twilight. In creating what he calls 'frozen moments', he has developed a process akin to the making of a feature film. Operating on an epic scale, he uses a large crew to shoot and then develop the images during post-production.

Every detail of these images is meticulously planned and staged, in particular the lighting. In some instances, extra lighting and special effects such as artificial rain or dry ice are used to enhance a natural moment of twilight. In others, the effect of twilight is entirely artificially created.

All the images propose twilight as a poetic condition. It is a metaphor for, and backdrop to, uncanny events that momentarily transport actors from the homeliness and security of their suburban context.

Written to accompany the exhibition Twilight.

Gregory Crewdson, Untitled from the series 'Twilight'

Gregory Crewdson
Untitled from the series 'Twilight'
2001
Digital C-type print
Width 65 inches x height 53 inches
Private Collection
© Gregory Crewdson

Gregory Crewdson, Untitled from the series 'Beneath the Roses'

Gregory Crewdson
Untitled from the series 'Beneath the Roses'
2004
Digital chromogenic print
Width 2236 mm x height 1148 mm
Private Collection, courtesy White Cube
© Gregory Crewdson

Gregory Crewdson, Untitled from the series 'Twilight'

Gregory Crewdson
Untitled from the series 'Twilight'
2001
Digital C-type print
Width 60 inches x height 48 inches
Private collection, courtesy White Cube
© Gregory Crewdson

Gregory Crewdson, Untitled from the series 'Beneath the Roses'

Gregory Crewdson
Untitled from the series 'Beneath the Roses'
2004
Digital chromogenic print
Width 2236 mm x 1148 mm
Private Collection, courtesy White Cube
© Gregory Crewdson

Gregory Crewdson, Untitled from the series 'Twilight'

Gregory Crewdson
Untitled from the series 'Twilight'
2001-2
Digital C-type print
Width 2236 mm x height 1148 mm
Sanders Collection, Amsterdam
© Gregory Crewdson

Gregory Crewdson, Untitled from the series 'Beneath the Roses'

Gregory Crewdson
Untitled from the series 'Beneath the Roses'
2003
Digital chromogenic print
Width 2236 mm x height 1148 mm
Private Collection, courtesy White Cube
© Gregory Crewdson