Nine Francois
The 2009 Chelsea International Fine Art Competition - Collective Exhibition
August 14 - September 2, 2009
Reception:
Thursday August 20, 2009 6-8 PM
Press Release
Nine Francois' photographs, of animals against a minimalist white background, draws attention to the creatures' natural elegance and grace. Her close-up angles and distilled compositions allow the viewer to concentrate on the form, beauty and also humor of these formidable beings. The images invite an urgent, visceral response but also touch the child-like awe with which we encounter animals in general. These sleek, mysterious creatures function both iconically as symbols representing our attempt to rationalize the unknown and emotionally as remembrances of our early connections with these old friends from childhood.
Francois currently lives and teaches photography in Austin, Texas.
Artist Statement
In taking my photographs, I need to be very close to the animal involved, frequently within touching distance, to get the visual distillation that I’m after. Consequently, finding the animals and convincing the owners to let me get so close has been a great challenge - although the majority of these animals are accustomed to a human presence, they are by no means domesticated. This usually means a long process of building a relationship of trust with the owners, and afterwards, with the animal itself. There is a lot of dancing around and cajoling that occurs during these photo sessions. It’s always an exercise in patience. There were many times I sat in the hot Texas sun for hours with nothing to show for my efforts afterwards. But when I get the animal just right in my frame, there’s a moment of magic and gratitude that makes up for the less fortunate times.
Invitation to the exhibition
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View the catalog page
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Artists in this exhibition
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