Untitled, 2004 C-type, 1 x 1 metre © Etienne Clément Etienne Clément Toy Stories Photofusion is proud to present a new exhibition of photographs by Etienne Clément. Staged in empty, derelict buildings, the subjects of these unconventional large-scale, colour portraits are tiny, second-hand figurines which would have at one time represented some kind of imaginary ideal to a young owner. Clément has always been drawn to forbidden, empty places. As a child, these unknown, unsafe territories were his playground offering an endless supply of stories to feed his avid curiosity. Previous series of works have focused on the memory of human habitation within these spaces - the traces of departed dwellers found on wall surfaces and fixtures. By photographing children's figurines in such environments, and by combining both portraiture and architecture, he is staging untold stories. Reversing the conventional studio portrait format where the real-life subject is placed against an idealised, fake background, in "Toy Stories" Clément has used all-too-real, troubled environments as the backdrop for these mass-produced figures. Now abandoned and cast off, their physical flaws are revealed close up. Here they look like products of their neglected environment, emerging from dark doorway sets like a travelling troupe of forgotten film characters, each apparently making a new bid for stardom: poorly painted geisha girls, blue cowboys and red Indians, a one-armed astronaut and a selection of mad, staring dolls. The effect is darkly comic and occasionally disturbing. "Unlike many photographers, Clément doesn't appear to be interested in making his subject matter look beautiful. Instead, his shots are honest and, for that reason, unexpected" (Grant Gibson, Blueprint, on the exhibition "Gutted" at the Geffrye Museum, London). Clément's recent solo exhibitions include Palais des Congres, Paris; BALTIC, Gateshead; and London shows at the Architectural Association, RIBA Architecture Gallery, 291 Gallery and the Geffrye Museum. His work appears in many public and private collections including BALTIC, ARTpoint, Blonksi Architects, The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Milton Keynes Council, London Borough of Hackney. He was educated at Ecole du Louvre and La Sorbonne, Paris. Exhibition: 21 January - 5 March 2005 Opening hours: Tue-Sat 10am - 6pm; Wed 10am - 8pm, Gallery closed: Sun, Mon & Bank Holidays Photofusion 17a Electric Lane UK-London SW9 8LA Telephone +44 020 7738 5774 Fax +44 020 7738 5509 Email info@photofusion.org www.photofusion.org |
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