Pierre de Fenoÿl
Jeu de Paume presents an extensive exhibition by photographer Pierre de Fenoÿl.
Born in 1945, Fenoÿl devoted his life to all aspects of photography. Delving into all fields of photography his career saw him work as a reporter, archivist, exhibition curator, gallerist and art buyer. In addition he founded his own photographic agency.
Driven by an overwhelming passion he made it his mission to promote photography and attain institutional recognition for the medium throughout the 70’s and 80’s. A key player in the field, he exhibited and spent much of his time with renowned photographers such as Brassaï, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Jacques-Henri Lartigue, Duane Michals, Edouard Boubat, Tony Ray-Jones and André Kertész, before developing an interest for 19th century photography.
Alongside his initiatives in promoting photography, Fenoÿl created a significant amount of work as his own photographic practice took him from India to the United States and Italy. His increasing need to devote himself entirely to taking photos was for him a spiritual and metaphysical quest, which encouraged him to leave Paris and his institutional responsibilities behind.
Over time Fenoÿl’s work grew and received wide recognition, which ensured him a place amongst French photographers. Fenoÿl himself was haunted by the concept of time and the use of photography as a memorial function. Defining himself as a “chrono-photographer”, he carefully noted down exact dates and times that images were taken.
The exhibition presented by Jeu de Paume showcases the depth and diversity of Fenoÿl’s work taking visitors on a journey through his career through a combination of prints, documents, projections, publications, films and sound. The works display a passion by the photographer to capture what lies beyond the subject. Many are deeply inspired by nature, which is apparent through a range of landscape photographs, devoid of human presence filled with a peaceful silence.
The exhibition will be on display from Saturday 20 June – Saturday 31 October 2015 at the Jeu de Paume Château de Tours Paris, France.
www.jeudepaume.org
www.pierredefenoyl.fr
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