Jean Rouch, the photograms

This exhibition presents the photograms of Jean Rouch's films taken from the 16mm films rolls he loved to work with. There are no doubt few such images considering his filmography of around 180 films which include his finished films and also half of his films which remained unfinished.

"We identified a few motifs that seem to us to underpin all his work which is so varied and surprising. One example would be those gestures of work which reveal the attention he paid to tangible elements and everyday life. Or these expressions of femininity which discreetly punctuate this work and convey something related to desire, something hidden. Or these elements of modernity that Jean Rouch discovers with astonishment and participates in. Or these looks, laughter and scopic impulses which underline the strongly reflexive dimension of the whole project along with the enthusiasm and taking joy from action. Or these doubles & inversions, those signs, in an attempt to make visible that which mysteriously and continuously accompanies the multiple aspects of existence. Finally, the fundamentals of this essential cinema made on a "shoestring budget" with a rare economy of resources and fruitfulness - movements, lights". [Neian RYU & Andrea PAGANINI]

Triptych panels: 18 image panels + 2 text panels:
Gestures of work
Femininity
Scopic impulses
Doubles & inversions
Movements
Lights