Greig Fraser and Josh Brolin unveil Dune: Exposures exhibition in London

Oscar-winning cinematographer Greig Fraser and Oscar-nominated actor Josh Brolin are presenting their creative venture, Dune: Exposures, at Frieze No 9 Cork Street in London this winter. The exhibition, which is free to the public, opens on Friday 29^th November and runs until Saturday 14^th December 2024. It offers a behind-the-scenes look into the filmmaking process of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune and Dune: Part Two, featuring a collection of original photography by Fraser and poetry by Brolin.

Dune: Exposures examines the artistic process undertaken during the shooting of Villeneuve’s adaptations of Frank Herbert’s iconic novel. The exhibition aims to provide insights into the complex process of filmmaking, as well as the personal and emotional experiences of its contributors.

Fraser shared his thoughts on the project: “I remember early on, during the first film, Denis told me that when he dreamed about the film, he dreamed in 4:3, which is very much a big screen format. But what I think is most impressive about Denis is that even at that scale, there’s always a humanity and an intimacy to the scene, as he writes it and as we film it. From a camera perspective, Denis didn’t write one simple scene in Dune: Part Two, every scene had a level of complexity that was way beyond what I’d done before, and it was very important to Denis that the camera mirrored the emotional journey of these characters. I hope that Josh and I are conveying with Exposures the singular experience we had making these films together and that the audience has watching them.”

Brolin, reflecting on his dual role as an actor and a poet, stated, “I love that there’s a bit of a poet in Gurney Halleck, even as he serves House Atreides – first Duke Leto and then Paul – as Warmaster, dedicating himself to defending them in battle no matter the consequences. Like my character, I felt inspired by the experience I was having as an actor, and the fact that Denis had tasked Greig with documenting it visually while I was capturing my own feelings through words felt like fate somehow. Both of these films were emotional for me, so to develop it further, along with my friend, to create something new that hopefully honours the gift that Denis gave all of us with these films, has been such a great experience.”

The collaboration between Fraser and Brolin began during the production of the Dune films, where they developed a close friendship. This connection is evident in the seamless integration of visual and written narratives presented in the exhibition. The project also led to the publication of a book, also titled Dune: Exposures, which quickly became a bestseller after its release in February 2024.

Dune: Part Two, the latest film adaptation by Villeneuve, has enjoyed significant box office success, grossing over $700 million. The film features a star-studded cast and has been praised for its ambitious and immersive storytelling. The exhibition at Frieze No 9 Cork Street not only celebrates the cinematic achievements of the Dune series but also the personal artistic expressions of its key contributors, providing a unique and intimate perspective on the art of filmmaking.

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Photo: Courtesy of Dune: Exposures

Dune: Exposures is at Frieze No 9 Cork Street from 29^th November until 14^th December 2024.