honorable mention
Olivier Robert france
title
Calligraphy Trees
This ‘Calligraphy Trees’ series started in Japan many years ago on the routes of Buddhist pilgrimages where I regularly spend time for my ongoing project about the sacred statuary in holy mountains. I deeply feel that these Japanese trees have a spiritual presence in the landscapes whether or not they are connected to temples or shrines. They pertain to contemplative sceneries that have inspired generations of philosophers, painters and artists over time.
In 1994, he graduated from the Institute of Landscape Architecture in Belgium and left his native country for Switzerland. As he arrived in the Lake Geneva region in 1995, he started a photographic work about the lake. This project is still continuing 20 years after and has pushed him into visiting many other lakes in the world. Since 2004, he has devoted his work almost exclusively to landscapes and waterscapes using mainly long exposures.
For his continuous projects as well as family reasons, he often gets thoroughly across Japan.
This approach has led him to the most remote places of the archipelago, through mountains, temples and shrines about which he has also carried out a photographic project on Buddhist statuary and sacred art for years.
back to gallery
entry description
This project consists in a personal approach of naturally-shaped trees that have a close connection to the traditional Japanese ink-painting (sumi-e). This painting has always been an important source of inspiration and has strongly influenced my photography about lakes and coastlines minimalist sceneries since 1995.This ‘Calligraphy Trees’ series started in Japan many years ago on the routes of Buddhist pilgrimages where I regularly spend time for my ongoing project about the sacred statuary in holy mountains. I deeply feel that these Japanese trees have a spiritual presence in the landscapes whether or not they are connected to temples or shrines. They pertain to contemplative sceneries that have inspired generations of philosophers, painters and artists over time.
about the photographer
Olivier Robert is a professional photographer and landscape architect sharing his life between Europe and Japan. His approach is based on a minimalist expression for more than 25 years. Initiated very early into the world of photography and dark room, he got his first camera at the age of 15.In 1994, he graduated from the Institute of Landscape Architecture in Belgium and left his native country for Switzerland. As he arrived in the Lake Geneva region in 1995, he started a photographic work about the lake. This project is still continuing 20 years after and has pushed him into visiting many other lakes in the world. Since 2004, he has devoted his work almost exclusively to landscapes and waterscapes using mainly long exposures.
For his continuous projects as well as family reasons, he often gets thoroughly across Japan.
This approach has led him to the most remote places of the archipelago, through mountains, temples and shrines about which he has also carried out a photographic project on Buddhist statuary and sacred art for years.
back to gallery