Verbal.

Ok in a few words, I was born in Niamey, Niger, in 1974. i spent my youthness in Niger and in Ivory-Cost until my parents came back to Réunion island. I graduated with a Masters in Photography and Multimedia from Paris VIII University in 1997 and has since I ve been working as a freelance photographer, primarily based in Paris, for now…

My current projects include the erosion of collective memory in a western world where the essential values seem to be speed, progress and technology. I seeks to capture the fantastic in what he sees, bringing my own interpretation to night-time photography and the use of light and dark/chiaroscuro. Searching something between the sense of wonder and anxiety, between contemplation and critical thinking.

My nocturnal studies have already provided the material for several exhibitions, including the lanternes sourdes, a study of shuttered dark lanterns, in 2004. This ongoing project already gave rise to a preliminary exhibition entitled Outre-mer at the Espace Khiasma, Paris, in June 2008. Im also involved in a number of multimedia projects, both in schools and hospitals. Im currently artist in residence at St Exupery middle school near Paris, working on the ‘La Peau de la lune‘ project on the theme of space exploration.

A large amount of your inspiration seems to stem from your countries colonial past, can you explain how this has shaped you as a photographer?

I’m also interested in the remnants of France’s colonial past, investigating the friction between history and memory, collective memories and personal. Of course it came from my own hystory, a vietnamese grandmother, an aother from madagascar and the mens from France and Réunion ! so i know few things about colonisation, from inside.

I photograph mostly landscapes and objects, with the aim of building an accurate, because they allow me to trigger a recall and to develop an imagination at the same time, while me based on real traces of the past. This last point is very important for me because I am a protographer of reality and experience of my journey in the real world is essential. I do not retouch my images, they are the result of a physico chemical optical and « argentique » .

It is a true light imprint. It is important because our eyes naturally need relief, variations and nuances of shading, I do not like digital, it’s too cold and too smooth despite the possibility of great clarity, without relief!

Are you currently working on a project, if so, can you tell us more about it?
I’m working on a humble portrait of my vision of manking in a serie called : la peau de la lune, something like the skin of the moon…and others talking about the sens of wonder, comtemplation, …

What makes you get up and go out and take images?
It not only images for me, it’s a way, in fact i dont have the choice, i believe « art » is the only thing who can save humans from falling in bestiality…

To the viewer of your work what feeling or impression would you like to leave?

delicate and quiet, wonderful and scary at the same time, attracted and repulsed, , this work ( the nigths works) make me think about John Coltrane ! or Ali Farka Toure or Danyel Waro, I wish people believe that one day ! but I still have work before that !

Does Reunion have a large artistic community?
Sure but it is an island and there is a big diaspora erupted around the world… there is huge potential, but it is very difficult because a few isolated anyway …

What is the hardest challenge faced by you as a photographer in Reunion and indeed Africa?

He must move and travel lot to come back stronger to work for his people, and to propose questions about how to fight for what is good and beautiful in human.

All images used with kind permission from Yo-Yo Gonthier ©

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