From October 5th to December 30th, Phot’Aix in Aix-en-Provence welcomes China: the works of five Chinese photographers paired with five French photographers are being shown in the old Collège des Prêcheurs and in the Aix-en-Provence town centre. Li Zhigou is showing his series entitled Tellement minuscule( So tiny).
The photographic series Tellement minuscule was produced with a 20×24 camera that the photographer Li Zhiguo built himself. Each picture results from multiple shots. During the creative process he has to position precisely each object, calculate the exposure time and estimate the differences in shading that affect these objects in each new print. The precision of these measurements is fundamental. Each work requires a minimum of three to five shots and there can be as many as thirty or even fifty. The slightest exposure error or the slightest movement of the subject could be fatal. A single mistake and the work is reduced to nothing.To get an impeccable photo, he has to adopt a scientific approach with seriousness and rigour. “I try to express the ideas I have within me, creating an imaginary space surpassing reality thanks to the use of multiple shots and the subtle quality available in using the large format camera”, Li Zhigou explains. “My work is situated at the crossroads of the three approaches underpinning my work: artistic, philosophic and scientific. I’m interested in the relationships that bring together the tiniest living beings with the largest. I would like to sublimate beings from the origins of life and make people aware of these primitive forms. Let’s look at them with benevolence and compassion.”
Phot’Aix
From 5th October to 30th December 2017
In the streets of Aix-en-Provence
France
