the astonishing photos of US, Arno Brignon’s family road trip in the United States

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Until November 16, 2024, the Maison de la Photographie, in Brest, presents USa exposition of around sixty photos ofArno Brignon. Film photos, in various formats, in color and black and white. “I consumed around 150 rolls of film during my road-trip in the United States, carried out in three one-month trips between 2018 and 2022,” calculates the photographer.

Outdated films

Some photos are intriguing. Why this orange color, this faded blue, this misty green? “I used recovery moviessome expiredthis gives different images in terms of lights, contrasts, surprising… Photos reticulated because the gelatin has cracked, others with faded colors. When I revealed the films, it was always a surprise. Especially since I used old film cameraswhich work more or less well, reinforcing the notion of chance in rendering. But that didn’t bother me, because my intention was not to deliver a documentary. »

Some photos come close to the paint and are similar to beautiful canvases. “It’s true, operating in this way allows you to broaden the color palette,” recognizes Arno Brignon.

European capitals

What were his objectives in launching this project? “Question European heritage in the United States through towns bearing names of European capitals », informs the artist.

Discovering the immensity of the territories between Amsterdam et Copenhagen in New York State, Berlin in New Hampshire, Lisbon in Maine, London and Dublin in Ohio, Bruxelles et Luxembourg in Wisconsin, Rome et Athens in Georgia, Madrid in New Mexico and Parisin Texas. “For most of small towns . A symbolic route for me, to get away from stereotypes. We traveled many kilometers, taking the very long and straight American roads: between Rome and Madrid, for example, there are some 3,000 kilometers! »

The iconographic heritage

While traveling through these wide open spaces, Arno Brignon also questioned iconographic heritage of the United States. Some of his images directly reference the work of other artists who influenced him. We think of the director Wim Wenders (and in particular to his film Paris, Texas), to the photographer Robert Frankor to the writer Jack Kerouac… “who all questioned the cities”, specifies Arno Brignon. Even the photographer Dolorès Marat when we contemplate this bag abandoned on a bench.

With family

This journey, the 48-year-old photographer who grew up in the Paris region and who lives in Toulouse, shared it, for once with family . With his partner Caroline and their daughter Joséphine, aged eight during the first circuit. Hence the title of the exhibition, UStranslated by us from American into French and initials of United States.

“When I presented this project to them, they made me understand that I was going to be absent again, to leave them alone. So I took them with me to these cities and they took me to places that, on my own, I probably wouldn’t have gone. Traveling as a family changes your relationship with others. For example, we were invited to celebrate Halloween by another family who was staying next to us and who had a little boy. Alone I obviously would not have made the same trip. »

Usit is therefore an exhibition, but also an beautiful book eponym in which Arno Brignon recounts his journey, in images and story (editions lamaindonne, 22 euros). A recorded text is also broadcast within the walls of the Maison de la Photographie.

Exhibiting is also traveling

Why US in Brest? “With Dom (Dominique Leroux, project manager and artistic director of the Rade Movie association which manages the House of Photography, Editor’s note), we have a common past: he was part of the Signatures agency, a photographer’s house where I am still with. He heard about my exhibition, he called me to come and present it here. »

Arno Brignon continues: “I came to Plouguerneau last summer on vacation, but I didn’t know Brest. Exhibiting is also travelingand I am delighted to discover Brest: I am staying there for a short week, it is very pleasant to visit all these little places that I would not have gone to without my local guide who knows Brest like the back of his hand. »

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