It is a story of friendship that led to this new collaboration between the famous photographer and Artemide, the legendary Italian light designer. Elliott Erwitt, “the family friend” who took pictures of the family dog has long accompanied Ernesto Gismonti, the creator of Artemide, through the different stages of development he calls “The Human Light”. Better than a slogan, a philosophy that marvelously fits Elliott Erwitt’s work. For its new international campaign, an “homage to light”, Ernesto Gismonti very naturally selected Erwitt.
The large photographs are on display in Paris, amongst the creations of designers in their avenue Daumesnil showroom. This great master’s discreet, subtle black and white work is shown here as it has never been before, flooded with light giving rhythm to the “futuristic” according to Ernesto Gismonti.
Each star-creator is simply featured holding a lamp, but with Erwitt’s funny and poetic touch: the designer holds the object in his hand, caresses it or exhibits it like a trophy. The photos and contact sheets that punctuate this “bright” exhibition feed off of an incandescent flood of light to express the “nobility” of black and white. And of course the beauty of the shapes of the lamps and the creativity of the designers.
Paul Alessandrini
Elliott Erwitt, A tribute to light
Until December 15
Artemide
52, Avenue Daumesnil
75010 Paris
