With its photography school, the Château d’Eau and several festivals, the city of Toulouse has done a lot for photography for more than forty years. The latest initiative: Résidence 1+2, created by the photographer Philippe Guionie, invites three photographers to work in the city every year. The work of Diana Lui, Alice Lévêque et Lea Patrix can be seen in an exhibition at Les Abattoirs until 27th November, in a three-book boxed set as well as in a film…
Résidence 1+2. Behind this somewhat mysterious title is concealed an ambitious programme dedicated to photography that was started in Toulouse by the photographer Philippe Guionie. 1+2 for an experienced photographer and two talented young people who are brought together in a communal living space for almost two months so that each can produce a photographic work of their own as part of their personal development. For this first edition of the Résidence, Diana Lui worked with Alice Lévêque, one of Philippe Guionie’s former pupils at the ETPA (the photography school set up in 1974 in Toulouse), and Lea Patrix the photographer met while leading a workshop in Arles.
Why this initiative? A Toulousain by adoption for more than 25 years, Philippe Guionie wanted to remedy the fact that Toulouse is a city that is little photographed though, paradoxically, it is a stronghold of photography: one thinks especially of the Château d’Eau, one of France’s pioneering spaces dedicated to photography, created in 1974, and of the recent MAP and Manifesto festivals.
But, above all, this residence offers a free hand, as proven by the series produced by Alice Lévêque and Lea Patrix who show the city just beneath the surface, their work being rather dreamlike in the first place and intimate in the second. Indeed, Alice Lévêque chose to make the Toulousains “dance” at nightfall in the places she first discovered and photographed with a Polaroid while Lea Patrix, wise beyond her 16 years, invites us to discover Léna, 20 years old, a sort of mirror of herself, in a series in the form of a private black and white visual journal . As for Diana Lui, she carried out research on the Toulousain heritage through the collections of various museums to produce, amongst other things, a series of portraits of Toulousains “by adoption” dressed in antique costumes and photographed in symbolic places in the city such as the metro, the Carmelite Chapel, or even the Paul Dupuy Museum. “That corresponds exactly to what I wish to develop every year with Residence 1+2”, comments Philippe Guionie, “ to put into perspective, the heritage, both material and intangible, present in the region (culture, memory, collections, expertise…) and to create new connections between the photographers, linked with other artistic forms (musician, videographer, illustrator…) and the economic, university, scientific environments…”
To rewind, Philippe Guionie put down the basis of this programme just one year ago in organising a colloquium on the theme of the residence. It brought together for one day, art centres, festivals, publishers and photographers, being the principal actors concerned with the theme of the residence. A time for exchange and reflection that gave rise to a book published by Filigrane, which was presented at the Rencontres d’Arles this summer. A happy initiative because works on this subject are rare. To sustain and keep track of Résidence 1+2 are Philippe Guionie’s ambitions.
So, to the exhibition at Les Abattoirs, the Toulouse museum of contemporary and modern art, are added the production of a 26 minute film about the three artists, produced by Marjore Calle, the creation of three books of different formats and editorial concepts in order to fit the work of each of the three artists together into one box. Backing for the complimentary distribution of the photography and for the duration of the residence. Financed one-third by the public sector (principally the City of Toulouse) and two-thirds by the private sector (essentially local businesses), Résidence 1+2 fulfilled its objectives: to have three artists live a remarkable creative experience in the city of Toulouse and to invite the public to share it.
Come back next year with Israel Arino, a Spanish photographer represented by the VU’ gallery, Leslie Moquin, diplomate of the National School of Photography of Arles in 2013, and Christian Sanna, an Italian-Malagassy photographer, winner of the Grand Prix Photographie at the ETPA, for the second edition, this time with the theme “Crossings”.
Sophie Bernard
Sophie Bernard is a journalist based in Paris specialising in photography and was editor–in-chief of the magazine Images for 12 years.
Exhibition:
Résidence 1+2 : Diana Lui, Alice Lévêque, Lea Patrix
Until 27th November 2016
Les Abattoirs Frac Midi-Pyrénées
76 allée Charles de Fitte
Toulouse
France
http://www.lesabattoirs.org/
26th and 27th November: closing week-end with screenings, performances, workshops, meetings…
www.1plus2.fr
Books
La résidence photographique en France #1, éditions Filigranes, 17 euros
1+2 résidence 2016, 3 livres, 27 euros
