A beautiful French photography exposition nous a fait craqué. We interview the curators behind the fashion photography, Alain and Brigitte Genestar.
We chat with the illustrious couple Alain and Brigitte Genestar on their collaborative project with the hotel Sofitel in Paris to bring French art, fashion and culture to the rest of the world.We wanted to know how such a large-scale and innovative project came into being. The show reveals some of the most arresting fashion photography going on right now.
Q: What was the impetus for the show
A: Along with the hotel Sofitel, Le Faubourg in Paris we wanted to come up with a theme for an show about luxury, elegance and above all, French inspiration. Since we wanted to launch the show in Paris during French fashion week in September of 2009, it seemed logical to find a theme around fashion. And with the Sofitel’s Paris, le Faubourg address being incontestably associated with fashion, the theme seemed appropriate. We then looked through our photographers who had worked in this subject area. Jean Marie Périer, Derek Hudson, Cathleen Naundorf Gérard Uféras et Françoise Huguier came to mind. That’s how Fashion Stills was born. Each of the five, featured photographers give a unique perspective on the design process, and the behind-the-scenes of fashion. Further fashion is a regular theme in the pages of Polka Magazine and on our website.
Karl Lagerfeld by Jean Marie Périer
Q: What was the goal of this traveling exposition for you and Polka—why travel with the show?
A: We wanted to share these photographs and collective concept in North America and in major European cities. Starting in September Fashion Stills will be in the hotel Sofitel of Los Angeles and then in Munich.
Image by Gérard Uféras
What do you look for when selecting an image or inviting a photographer to show in your gallery?
For us a good photograph must tell a story.
How did you select the photographers for this show?
We selected the photographers according to their work and the ways that each complements the other. Jean Marie Périer focuses on his subjects and protagonists, Gérard Uféras goes behind-the-scenes, Derek Hudson captures the intimacy of d'Yves Saint Laurent, Cathleen Naundorf reveals the uniqueness of each garment’s creation and mixes this with her original shooting style. And Françoise Huguier, who you can find in Los Angeles, has a style that is both photo-journalistic and editorial.
Image by Cathleen Naundorf
Are there any stories in particular that go with the selection of these images or of these photographers whose work has also shown in your gallery? Has a photographer shared a particular insight or interesting story regarding the creation of one of the images in the show?
Each of the photographers has shown in the Polka gallery and appeared in the magazine.
The most emblematic photo is certainly Jean Marie Périer’s Yves Saint Laurent with Carla Bruni. It’s actually a meeting of three personalities: the photographer, the designer and the top model, who would become the First Lady of France. This photo is striking and exists only because of the amazing complicity that brought these three unique individuals together.
Yves Saint Laurent and Carla Bruni by Jean Marie Périer
Do you feel that the images in this collection contribute to a dialogue on fashion and it’s place in the arts?
Yes, it’s clearly a union between two creative domains: fashion and photography.
At the London opening
What advice do you have from a gallerist standpoint for aspiring fashion photographers?
Follow the advice that I’ve learned from one of the biggest names in fashion photography: “the best fashion photo is one that doesn’t resemble a fashion photo.” The photographer is Peter Lindbergh. He will be the featured guest for the 10th edition of Poka.
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Polka is composed of three media outlets:
The gallery, Polka, at 12 rue Saint Gilles Paris 3ème. www.polkagalerie.com
The quarterly photography magazine www.polkamagazine.com
And a new website (currently under construction) www.polkalive.com
The next issue of Polka Magazine #10, is out August 26, 2010
The next exposition in Paris at the gallery runs, September 10 - November 10, 2010, with Peter Lindbergh, Stanley Greene, Brenda Ann Kenneally et Mi Zhu.
Dates:
Fashion Stills
Los Angeles : Septembre - novembre 2010
Montréal : Décembre - Janvier 2011
Munich : Septembre - novembre 2010
Rome : Decembre - Janvier 2011
** Interview translated by Kari Skaflen
