After the suburbs, the Russians, and portraits of the French, old and young, Luc Choquer brings us the Parisians. An exhibition at the Agathe Gaillard gallery through November 5 and a book published by “Terre Bleue” with a preface by Anna Alter. The gallery owner selected the 35 prints exposed from the 90 featured in the book. These are part of days and years of work that have since been transformed into a project. One third of the book dates back to the Métis days, while the rest were taken over the past two years. Luc Choquer’s Paris and his Parisians were taken by affection. They are quite funny, having little in common with Robert Doisneau’s Parisians or Willy Ronis’ union workers. His fluorescent colors differing from the black and whites of the humanists. They are neither the same world, nor the same places, nor the same people, nor the same approach.

People can’t be photographed unless they, or the person near them, declare their right to control their image, to which Luc Choquer responds that he wants his right to provide witness. Will he continue to work in Paris or will he, like Martin Parr, cease to work in France to avoid legal procedures.

With this subject and this book, Luc Choquer clearly asks this question, meeting Parisians in the most unusual places like fashion houses, hairdressers, the subway, demonstrations, fashion shows… Who are these Parisians that seem to come from all over the globe and the suburbs? More than a place, they reflect a time period.

54 prints will also be displayed at the Juliobona gallery of Lillebonne in “Portraits de Français”, from September 22 to December 13.

Bernard Perrine
Bernard.perrine1@orange.fr

Exhibitions

Luc Choquer
Les Parisiens
Until November 5, 2011

Galerie Agathe Gaillard
3 rue du pont Louis-Philippe
75004 Paris
+33 (0)1 42 77 38 24

Luc Choquer
Portraits de français
Until December 13, 2011
Galerie Juliobona
place de Coubertin
Lillebonne (76)
+33 (0)2 35 38 51 88

Book

Luc Choquer
Les Parisiens
Preface by Anne Alter
176 pages
format 225 x 300mm
Éditions Terre bleue