Douglas Kirkland: "A night with Marilyn"

MONDO GALERIA pays a tribute, one more time, to the great "Diva" of the silver screen and pop icon: Marilyn Monroe. For the first time in Spain presents the exhibition "A night with Marilyn Monroe" by canadian photographer Douglas Kirkland. Frank Sinatra´s music, champagne, silk bed linen, a man and a woman. The dream of any man of that time materialized on a young photographer shooting his assignment for the 25th anniversary of the mythical Look magazine. The result: un unforgettable series of photographs, a vulnerable, natural and undeniably seductive Marilyn, an unprecedented style which will inspire upcoming sessions with great photographers of the time.

I did not spend three days in bed with Marilyn…if I had, these photographs probably would not exist! (Kirkland laughs). I met Marilyn on three occasions. I was struck by the apparent simplicity of her life. Her home was definitely not what one would expect of a great movie star. She simply said, “Okay I know what we need.

We need a bed with white silk sheets and nothing else, and it will work. “But,” she added, “The sheets must be silk.” The curtain was rising on one of the most amazing, memorable evenings of my life. I remember seeing two female assistants, one for hair and makeup and the other, I assumed, carrying bags of clothes. Marilyn gave me a quick hug and kiss on the cheek, and then they all disappeared into the dressing room. When she came back out, to my great surprise, she suddenly sat up in bed, covered her breasts and announced to all, “I think I should be alone with this boy.” Now it was just the two of us.

Me with Marilyn Monroe. I wasn’t sure exactly what was expected of me. What was I supposed to do? I retreated behind my camera and started shooting again.

This selection of photographs printed in limited editions supervised personally by Douglas Kirkland was made specially for MONDO GALERIA where they will be available for aquisition or enjoyment of the public until begining of year 2017.