Marc Riboud, one of the greatest living French photographer in the world, held individual exhibition in the Seoul Art Center for about two months, which ended two weeks ago with highly positive responses.
The first section, ‘Eiffel Tower Painter’ shows the geometric sense of Riboud, the art of turning three dimensional figure into a two dimensional. Most of the photos are about Eiffel Tower, but with various angles and perspectives. The highlight of the entire exhibition is included here― Eiffel Tower Painter. The painter in the photograph seems to be too happy to mind his security, and purely appreciates his honorable work to paint the cultural icon of Paris.
The second part is ‘China and Japan in 50s’. 1950s was a decade of political turbulent upheaval in China. In the pictures Riboud had taken, the looks on people, however, express no sign of caring government issues but focusing on making their own lives; earning foods to eat, clothes to wear.
‘From the Paris with Love’ is filled with the atmosphere of romance and peace. The photos of lovers kissing, talking and looking into each other’s eyes, make viewers imagine the story of the lovers, and furthermore, remind them of their own love stories.
‘Women’s beauty in Nature’ includes pictures of women in multiple situations. For example, in one photo, mom is hugging her three newborn twins, and somehow viewers feel beauty and comfort from it. The power of fertility, the power of being a mom, is what Riboud called ‘Women’s beauty in Nature’. What is noticeable, Riboud tells us the charm of eyes obscured behind hijab and chador, religious clothes concealing women’s body in Islam, which people generally pity and feel sorry for.
The fifth and the sixth section, ‘Witness of Time’ and ‘As the World Turns’ exhibit fairly social photographs; photographs of well known people and social events. ‘Protest Against the Vietnam War’, in which a girl hands a flower to a soldier pointing a gun at her head, touched viewers the most. The soldier must have same desire for peace, and the girl tries to revive it so courageously in a dangerous situation.
Overall, in the exhibition, every single photograph of Marc Riboud was a fruit of his passion in capturing the essence of normal people. “Rather than a profession, photography has always been a passion for me, a passion closer to an obsession.”, he said.
Nawon Kim
"To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.", said Anatole France. Yes, I pray every night to ask for positive thinking and courage; positiveness to dream what seems too far away from where I am, courage to believe what I should believe. One of those fantastic great things would be, I think, "love", as my motto says: "Love me, Love the World!"
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I really like the vivid description you provided for the various artworks! It really made me feel that I was walking through the gallery.
It would have been great if you could have found people who attended the exhibition and got their opinion. Otherwise, great article!
Thanks for your points!
Well I can’t believe how come I couldn’t figure out interviewing one of the audience!