La banque d'images Région Basse-Normandie/République de Macédoine est la première du genre. Elle a été réalisé sur le territoire bas-normand et macédonien entre les mois de mars et novembre 2009.
Le programme de coopération décentralisée entre la Région Basse-Normandie et la République de Macédoine a commencé en 2006 avec l’objectif principal de contribuer à l’ouverture au monde des populations de ces deux territoires. Il s’agit d’une coopération innovante : une région française coopère avec un État, l’État macédonien. La coopération décentralisée entre la Région Basse-Normandie et la République Macédoine qui se décline en 7 axes : Technologies numériques et médias, Jeunesse, Inventaire de patrimoine, Politiques culturelles, Tourisme, Développement agroalimentaire et Droits de l’Homme. Les actions de chaque axe sont mises en œuvre par un binôme composé d’une association française et d’une association macédonienne, spécialisées dans le sujet.
Cette banque d'images a donné lieu en 2010 à l'exposition MK(2009)
Article paru dans la revue Tea Moderna (Skopje, République de Macédoine, novembre 2009)
Traduction anglaise (par Ivana Velkovska) de l'article paru dans TEA MODERNA (novembre 2009)
MACEDONIA TRIGGERED A NEW SENSE OF ESTHETICS INSIDE ME
The French photographer and oceanographer Emmanuel Luce, was staying in Macedonia from June to October, photographing and documenting the cultural events under the project for cultural collaboration between Macedonia and the region Lower Normandy, France. However, during his stay he also found inspiration for a new set of photographs, unrelated to the project, which will be part of his new exhibition.
“The cultural collaboration between our countries was realised in many ways such as: youth collaboration, media, technology, culture, cultural heritage and tourism. For this purpose, many different events, manifestations and workshops were organised. Part of them were organised in Macedonia, and another part in Lower Normandy. My assignment was to document them through photography. On the other hand, this project gave me the opportunity to visit a country that I wasn’t very familiar with, and to make new photos unrelated to the project” – says Emmanuel Luce.
He is an oceanographer, although photography has always been present in his life, mostly as a hobby. However, this has changed three years ago.
“In 2006, I started to intensely consider photography as my primary profession. The oceanography studies had made it possible for me to travel to Canada and then also in Africa where I took a lot of photographs. Since then, I have been entirely devoted to photography.”
The photographs he took in Macedonia are going to be a part of his next exhibition. Through them, he does not want to present Macedonia only, but to also present his personal impressions of Macedonia, a country that fascinated and intrigued him.
“The photographs I took will take part in the exhibition that I am planning to make. I cannot precisely say when the exhibition will happen, but I will try to organize it as soon as possible. When arriving in a new country, it is ideally to be accepted and treated with hospitality, which is exactly what happened to me in Macedonia, for which I am very grateful to the people who made me feel welcomed and accepted in your country. Unfortunately, the duration of my stay was not long enough so that I can develop even closer relationships, which is something I need for the realisation of my photographs. As a result, the photographs I took in Macedonia are more of a product of observing rather than participating in the environment. With this exhibition it is not my intention to tell the people: “Look, this is Macedonia!”, but to present my personal perspective of Macedonia. This experience made me discover a new esthetic point of view, which was caused by the serenity of the country. With this exhibition it is my goal to break the stereotypes that the Balkan is a place of conflict.”
His working method involves getting familiar with the environment and the people as much as possible which requires a lot of time. It usually takes up to two years to create a great set of photographs.
“Before I start working I prefer to get accustomed to the environment and the people surrounding me. For an example, my photographs from Guinea Bissau are created over a two-year period. I need that period of time to assimilate, become one with the community so that my photographic perception could sharpen. When I am in a country where I don’t speak the language, I rarely take the camera in my hands and immediately start taking photos. I had the same approach for my second exhibition related to the snow cleaners in Quebec. I also spent two years with them, the first year observing them and the second year photographing them on the roofs of Quebec. What I learned about Macedonia during my short stay is that this is not a complicated country but a complex country.”
His last two exhibitions were more of a photo-documentary exhibitions, devoted to examining the connection between the human and the environment where he lives and works.
“Due to this approach, my photographs have a sense of engagement. I like when the people that are in the focus of my camera get to know me, as a person, as a friend, as Emmanuel…because only through that connection between the photographer and the object of the photography it can be reached to the depths of the surroundings. The spontaneity of the photography comes from the inner feeling that you carry inside yourself. The photographer can feel the emotions and this is the moment when something good comes out. But the last two exhibitions lead me to the conclusion that what I did was very academically oriented and that this orientation made me not take a certain photograph on few occasions. Sometimes I also didn’t take a photo because I suspected that it wouldn’t be good enough from esthetical point of view. The experience in Macedonia thought me that I have probably lost some very good photographs because I was making decisions with my head instead of my heart. After this short stay in your country I came to a conclusion that I should distance myself from the academism that is following me throughout my work and rely on my inner intuitive esthetics”- says Emmanuel Luce.
As he says himself, he has always had a great affinity towards the black and white photography. But this has not always been a determining factor in the choice of technique.
“It is true that the portraits made in black and white can be more poetic. However, choosing the technique is more of an instinct. Your instinct should help you make a decision whether to shoot in black and white or in color. I have made many photographs in color which are as good as those shot in classical black and white technique. I don’t acknowledge photographs stored in a computer’s memory, I realise that existence only when they are tangible, when they are printed on paper.”-says Emmanuel Luce and promises that he will return to Macedonia, a country that gave him much more than he expected.
Jelena Dimovska (Translation by Ivana Velkovska)
