A new exhibition of the works of Congolese photographer Maurice Bidilou called Pellosh takes place from June 8 to 18 in Paris 3eme. 10 rue Caffarelli.
Maurice Bidilou, known as Pellosh was born on August 15, 1951 in Bouansa in southern Congo-Brazza and at the age of 20 became an apprentice photographer in Pointe-Noire.
During almost two years, he learned the keys and tricks of the trade and trained in light, shadows, nuances, chiaroscuro: a passion was born to which he would devote his entire life.
In less than a year, his savings enabled him to open his studio in Pointe-Noire on December 17, 1973, not far from the main market. Studio Pellosh was born!
From 1973 until the mid-1990s, Pellosh saw parading in his studio, all strata of society: the fine flower of Pointe-Noire, families, funny guys, sappers, workers, couples in love, all eager to get their portrait taken.
It was at the end of 2019 that Emmanuele Bhéry crossed paths with Pellosh in Pointe Noire for the first time and was immediately won over by his personality and the yellowed and jagged photos he presented to her as so many fragile and moving witnesses of a joyous and bygone era. She quickly returned to the Congo, armed with a negatoscope, and exhumed, in the company of Pellosh, in the dampness of yet another rainy season, mountains of Kodak boxes corroded by humidity, containing thousands of 6×6 negatives: then emerge from the past cohorts of faces, young and old, loving looks, incredible visions of sappers…
Convinced of having awakened artistic and historical nuggets from the past, Emmanuèle Bhéry returns to Paris and then began for this “talent scout”, as she likes to define herself, a long work of restoration, archiving and backup of the negatives found, in the studio, sometimes nibbled by termites and mice, and subjected to the rigors of the tropical climate for more than 40 years.
After a first exhibition at Espace Beaurepaire (Paris X), in June 2021 and an exhibition in Dar es Salaam in Tanzania in October 2022, the first exhibition on the African continent, this third exhibition is the fruit of this major work. and a tremendous tribute to Pellosh and his talent.
Pellosh : Faces à Faces
10 rue Caffarelli. Paris 3eme
Metros: République, Arts et Métiers, Temple, Daughter of Calvary
Exhibition from Thursday June 8, 2023 to Sunday June 18, 2023 From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Opening of the exhibition: Thursday June 8 at 12 p.m.
Vernissage: Thursday, June 8 at 6:30 p.m.
Closing of the exhibition: Sunday June 18 at 6 p.m.
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Pellosh
https://www.instagram.com/studiopellosh/
