honorable mention
David MATHIAS france
title
DESERT THRESHOLD
So I decided to shoot those whom I encounter everyday and who constitute a part of my « social » life. They are in my daily life without being strictly speaking intimate.
I chose to deal with the constraints of the lockdown: A session of 1 hour maximum, at less than 1 km from home, where the models would be at least at 1 meter from me. I gave them an appointment in the only place where they could unmask themselves without fully revealing their intimacy : in their building hall or stairwell.
An « intermediate » space, like a threshold between the private and the public sphere. Neither at home and outside;
In these « in between » spaces, the outfits stand out on interiors of vintage fancy buildings, but antiquated and small. It reveals a parisian sociology (which is also mine, it must be admitted), which often seeks to prefer aesthetics to functional; « the charm of ancient » say the french real estate ads. It is also the charm of « the ancient world » that we probably sought to hang during these sessions where we met, at the door of empty streets, at the threshold of an urban desert.
His portraits paints people in a "neutral" presence where their body detaches from a minimalist background. There is always an emotional and symbolic relationship between the people photographed and the environment in which they are portrayed.
back to gallery
entry description
From October 30 to December 15, 2020 France entered in a second lockdown, motivated by the contaminations thresholds, with the threat of isolation and gradual withdrawal ; a desert of relationship.So I decided to shoot those whom I encounter everyday and who constitute a part of my « social » life. They are in my daily life without being strictly speaking intimate.
I chose to deal with the constraints of the lockdown: A session of 1 hour maximum, at less than 1 km from home, where the models would be at least at 1 meter from me. I gave them an appointment in the only place where they could unmask themselves without fully revealing their intimacy : in their building hall or stairwell.
An « intermediate » space, like a threshold between the private and the public sphere. Neither at home and outside;
In these « in between » spaces, the outfits stand out on interiors of vintage fancy buildings, but antiquated and small. It reveals a parisian sociology (which is also mine, it must be admitted), which often seeks to prefer aesthetics to functional; « the charm of ancient » say the french real estate ads. It is also the charm of « the ancient world » that we probably sought to hang during these sessions where we met, at the door of empty streets, at the threshold of an urban desert.
about the photographer
After 15 years dedicated to the creation of images and video environments for major events and shows, David decided returned to a human scale "face to face", by making portraits.His portraits paints people in a "neutral" presence where their body detaches from a minimalist background. There is always an emotional and symbolic relationship between the people photographed and the environment in which they are portrayed.
back to gallery