For Arts Sakes!

Tuesday evening found me trotting up to Brick Lane for the preview of the Emmanuelle Tricoire exhibition In Utero at the EastGallery. Emmanuelle is a Paris based photographer who after shooting nothing for a year embarked on a mission to shoot intimate black and white portraits of ordinary people. After all In Utero means ‘In the Uterus’ and these photographs display subjects who range from the bold to the somewhat vulnerable and or sweet. All in all a coleection of very intimate portraits.

Having first bumped into my friend, birthday boy Wasif with his lady Cherrelle (is it possible not to bump into someone you know up the lane?) I finally got to the gallery that was glowing like a beacon and filled with people actually looking at the art. I know that’s what’s supposed to happen at an exhibit but you know a lot of the time at private views people are too busy quaffing wine and chit chatting and the art becomes secondary!

Anyways after accepting a glass of wine J I made my way around each portrait and I have to say each photo draws you in. Perhaps because they were shot in Emmanuelle ‘s apartment each subject felt comfortable enough to emote their true selves. There is some nudity but it isn’t gratuitous. Even if they were clothed they’d still be naked via the expression in their eyes or their stance. One photo shows a man with fantastic tattoos that look virtually like fine art and it was like portrait within a portrait. Hands down my favorite is of a man of substantial girth, heavily tattooed his vest around his neck. He’s standing in light but surrounded by darkness and to me it was like he was on stage auditioning and at any moment he’s going to belt out a song or recite some sonnets! I love that photo!

Emmanuelle was there looking effortlessly stylish. You’ve heard of fingerless gloves? I can best describe her hand accessories as ‘handless’. Inspired! My good friend and up and coming photographer Joe Murphy (he hung the portraits) introduced me to Tricoire and I got him to take the photo of her featured in this blog with my iphone.

It was a fabulous evening and I eavesdropped on some interesting conversations held by the arty creative types present that made me say to myself (must do better) ha! The exhibit runs until April 5^th. Make sure you check it out....Resident St Luker - Delphina :)