honorable mention
Michel Kirch france
title
the Awakened
His latest theme, The Awakened (Les Eveillés), brings the work of Michel Kirch full circle.
In terms of form, for one… Everything that has been alluded to or explored until now is hereby asserted, established, in an increasingly exacting geometry, with a square format like a kind of protocol on a black ground, and, more often than not, a single human figure, an Everyman unfurling in a landscape where he is its punctuation. From their relationship flows the meaning of the whole.
The character alone bears the brunt of the human condition. His gestures, his silences, his fervors are universal, insofar as they translate how each one of us can or must deal with making our place in the world. Miniscule and at the same time a giant, he is lost…and yet so fully present.
His silhouette conveys the legitimacy or impropriety of his presence in a given place. That presence could be read as incongruous if the energy driving him did not transcend the given landscape, the conventional idea. He is a catalyst, he is a conscience; the Awakening lies in wait…
Here, landscape is the test of the awakened. Its elements are powerful, sometimes immense, often unsettling. It mirrors the character’s internal topography: darkly saturated depths, labyrinthic paths to choose from, craggy hills to climb.
But the landscape is in need of awakening, just as the awakened cannot be so without it. The two are complementary in their sharing of an energy whose genesis hinges on the balance of their encounter.
With “The Awakened”, Michel Kirch confirms his intention to etch spirituality into the very structure of his work.
• Shows in Europe, USA and Asia. (60 shows in 15 countries)
• Represents France at the Alexandria Biennale in 2008.
• The Province of Milan chooses works from his series Climats to accompany a lecture by Edgar Morin and establish a link between Morin’s thinking and art.
• Becomes the first artist to be chosen by the foundation L’Art pour la Conscience, sponsored by Edgar Morin.
• Is chosen two years running (2009, 2010) by Esther Woerdehoff gallery for Paris Photo.
and for MIART and MIA in Milan (2010, 2011).
• Is selected three years running by Mac Paris (2009–2011).
• In 2010 his exhibition TransPhotographies is spotlighted by the City of Marseille.
• Invited by the John McDermott Gallery to the Angkor Foto Festival in 2010.
• Exhibition at Espace Cardin in Paris in december 2011 sponsored by Edgar Morin, with the backing of the ESA
• In June 2012 he is named Intercultural Ambassador by the UNESCO
• Invited by French Embassy in India to exhibit in New Delhi , 2013.
• Invited by UNESCO to exhibit during the Global Conference , 2013.
• Retrospective on various sites in the city of Metz, including the Musée de la Cour d’Or, 2014.
• Shows with Baudoin Lebon gallery at the Art O’Clock fair, Paris, 2013.
• Black and White magazine: Award Winner, Portfolio Contest, 2013.
• Grand Prix Eurazeo for Photography, 2013.
• Publication of the monograph “ “les éveillés”, 2014
• Invited by the Mairie de Paris for “Bridges and Cultures” , 2015
• Winner of the International Competition « Spirit of the Mediterranean », organized by PHOTOMED and LENSCULTURE. 2016
• « Monochrome Photographer of the Year « January 2017 (Monochrome Awards)
• Selected for Festfoto Brazil May 2017
back to gallery
entry description
The AwakenedHis latest theme, The Awakened (Les Eveillés), brings the work of Michel Kirch full circle.
In terms of form, for one… Everything that has been alluded to or explored until now is hereby asserted, established, in an increasingly exacting geometry, with a square format like a kind of protocol on a black ground, and, more often than not, a single human figure, an Everyman unfurling in a landscape where he is its punctuation. From their relationship flows the meaning of the whole.
The character alone bears the brunt of the human condition. His gestures, his silences, his fervors are universal, insofar as they translate how each one of us can or must deal with making our place in the world. Miniscule and at the same time a giant, he is lost…and yet so fully present.
His silhouette conveys the legitimacy or impropriety of his presence in a given place. That presence could be read as incongruous if the energy driving him did not transcend the given landscape, the conventional idea. He is a catalyst, he is a conscience; the Awakening lies in wait…
Here, landscape is the test of the awakened. Its elements are powerful, sometimes immense, often unsettling. It mirrors the character’s internal topography: darkly saturated depths, labyrinthic paths to choose from, craggy hills to climb.
But the landscape is in need of awakening, just as the awakened cannot be so without it. The two are complementary in their sharing of an energy whose genesis hinges on the balance of their encounter.
With “The Awakened”, Michel Kirch confirms his intention to etch spirituality into the very structure of his work.
about the photographer
• Born in France, 1959.• Shows in Europe, USA and Asia. (60 shows in 15 countries)
• Represents France at the Alexandria Biennale in 2008.
• The Province of Milan chooses works from his series Climats to accompany a lecture by Edgar Morin and establish a link between Morin’s thinking and art.
• Becomes the first artist to be chosen by the foundation L’Art pour la Conscience, sponsored by Edgar Morin.
• Is chosen two years running (2009, 2010) by Esther Woerdehoff gallery for Paris Photo.
and for MIART and MIA in Milan (2010, 2011).
• Is selected three years running by Mac Paris (2009–2011).
• In 2010 his exhibition TransPhotographies is spotlighted by the City of Marseille.
• Invited by the John McDermott Gallery to the Angkor Foto Festival in 2010.
• Exhibition at Espace Cardin in Paris in december 2011 sponsored by Edgar Morin, with the backing of the ESA
• In June 2012 he is named Intercultural Ambassador by the UNESCO
• Invited by French Embassy in India to exhibit in New Delhi , 2013.
• Invited by UNESCO to exhibit during the Global Conference , 2013.
• Retrospective on various sites in the city of Metz, including the Musée de la Cour d’Or, 2014.
• Shows with Baudoin Lebon gallery at the Art O’Clock fair, Paris, 2013.
• Black and White magazine: Award Winner, Portfolio Contest, 2013.
• Grand Prix Eurazeo for Photography, 2013.
• Publication of the monograph “ “les éveillés”, 2014
• Invited by the Mairie de Paris for “Bridges and Cultures” , 2015
• Winner of the International Competition « Spirit of the Mediterranean », organized by PHOTOMED and LENSCULTURE. 2016
• « Monochrome Photographer of the Year « January 2017 (Monochrome Awards)
• Selected for Festfoto Brazil May 2017
back to gallery
