RANCINANInHong Kong

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forewordThe Photographer Gérard Rancinan in Hong KongExhibiting in the world’s most prestigious galleries and museums such as the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, the Triennale in Milan and the Museu d’Art Contemporani in Barcelona, Gérard Rancinan’s magnificent photography finally makes its debut in Hong Kong, as part of his world tour.

Marking the first photography exhibition to be held by our Hong Kong gallery, “Rancinan in Hong Kong” is a boundary-breaking show, both in its physical magnitude as well as in its subject matter. Rancinan takes photography to a higher level, presenting his compositions as artistic entities that surpass mere existence, displayed in a complex and rich context linking and intertwining their past inspiration with their present existence in a futuristic and adventurous form.

Rancinan draws on inspiration from vast subject matters, from fashion icons to classical art, giving his provoking compositions a fresh interpretation every time.

As you will discover in this show, the imaginative world of Rancinan is a fascinating place to visit; it will intrigue you, excite you, even disturb you at times but will always leave you in awe of the extremely talented execution of a simple idea.

We feel privileged to host Rancinan in Hong Kong and look forward to sharing this exceptional show with you.

Shirley YablonskyDirector Opera Gallery Hong Kong

Gilles DyanChairman Opera Gallery Group

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biography

Born in the Bordeaux region, Gérard Rancinan travels the globe, bearing first hand witness to events of historical importance. Natural catastrophes, civil and ethnic wars, and urban riots… he comes face to face with the complexity of the human condition and the random events by which it is fashioned. His imperious need for self-expression leads him to focus on the world’s most important issues, he delivers startling images filtered through an ever-evolving aesthetic prism.

Constantly breaking down barriers, he is, by turn, an investigator deconstructing the great sagas of contemporary life, and a portraitist. His photographs of athletes, artists, ecclesiastics and politi-cians have become iconic. His images have earned him a number of prizes, including four prestigious World Press Awards.

Following his domain of predilection, in the “Trilogy of the Moderns” he becomes the wakeful obser-ver of his contemporaries. This marginal perspective involves real mises en scène, veritable simulacra of the world in which we live.

Internationally renowned, Gérard Rancinan’s work is exhibited in the world’s most prestigious galle-ries and museums and features in the most important contemporary art collections. During a recent Étude Millon auction at Drouot (2008), Gérard Rancinan became one of the highest ranked photo-graphers in France. Gérard Rancinan is a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres.

07Gérard Rancinan’s work can be compared to no other. Labeled as fine-art photography, the artist’s profession is also his means of expression and commitment. Rancinan’s photographs are not merely conditioned reflexes.

They are the very instruments of his thought-process, sensitive views of the world we live in and recognized forms of contemporary art. Rancinan breaks with the conventional world of photography in order to follow a road that, although not solitary, remains unique.

Although his photographs are always inspired by the reality of our world nowadays, they are so much more than the mere face-value representation of such a reality. Rancinan’s works are poetic propositions, fragments of an enlightened vision of our times.

The artist likes to start with a more classic inspiration - from Velázquez to Géricault - combining it with the influence of his encounters with Robert Rauschenberg or Paul McCarthy; the result is the production of pre-meditated creations for which Rancinan alone holds the secret.

Entering this surprising universe amounts to accepting the risk of discovering something new, to look elsewhere while the world’s gaze continues in more orthodox directions. Every photograph of the artist’s creation is a punch to the gut, void of any stylish effect. Each of the artist’s exhibitions is an exploration of destabilisation, from which one never emerges unscathed, but always stronger.

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presentationp

Bearing active witness to the great upheavals of Humanity...

metamorphosesm

Argentic print mounted on plexiglas in artist’s frame

Metamorphosis I - The Raft of Illusions

Argentic print mounted on plexiglas in artist’s frame

Metamorphosis II - Freedom Unveiled13

Fine Art print, golden wood frame

Metamorphosis III - The Garden of Delirium14

Argentic print mounted on plexiglas in artist’s frame

Metamorphosis IV - The Big Supper

Argentic print mounted on plexiglas in artist’s frame

Metamorphosis V - Don’t Kill your Brother

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Argentic print mounted on plexiglas in artist’s frame

Metamorphosis VI - Las Meninas

Argentic print mounted on plexiglas in artist’s frame22

Argentic print mounted on plexiglas in artist’s frame

Metamorphosis VIII-IX-XBirth & Death - Triptych

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Argentic print mounted on plexiglas in artist’s frame

Metamorphosis XI - Decadence26

Bubbles of thought preserved against the obliteration of our memory...

hypothesesh

Fine Art print, golden wood frame

Hypothesis II - A Marvellous World 30

Argentic print mounted on plexiglas in artist’s frame

Hypothesis IV - Hiroshima Memory 33

Argentic print mounted on plexiglas in artist’s frame

Hypothesis VI - The Three Graces34

Argentic print mounted on plexiglas in artist’s frame

Hypothesis XI - The Martyr

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Argentic print mounted on plexiglas in artist’s frame

Hypothesis XII - Promise38

a wonderful worldLife is one big amusement park…

Argentic print mounted on plexiglas in artist’s frame

Batman Family

Argentic print mounted on plexiglas in artist’s frame

On the Way Back from Disneyland

47Argentic print mounted on plexiglas in artist’s frame

Our Soldiers Save our Values

Argentic print mounted on plexiglas in artist’s frame

Family Watching TV

Argentic print mounted on plexiglas in artist’s frame

Desperate Marilyn51

From a simple portrait to a unique artistic performance

portraitsp

Argentic print mounted on plexiglas in artist’s frame120 x 180 cm - 47.2 x 70.9 in.

Adriana

56 Argentic print mounted on plexiglas in artist’s frame

Paul McCarthy

58 Argentic print mounted on plexiglas in artist’s frame

Gong Li

Argentic print mounted on plexiglas in artist’s frame

Zhang Huan60

Argentic print mounted on plexiglas in artist’s frame

Ming in Grey, Red, White - Triptych 62

Having a slightly different view of the world

eulogy to being different

Argentic print mounted on plexiglas in artist’s frame

Danny Ramos66

Argentic print mounted on plexiglas in artist’s frame

DebArgentic print mounted

on plexiglas in artist’s frame

Jimmy and the Bull6968

specimensThe vanity of man to change the world to fit his image

Fine Art print, white wood frame

Specimen # 2694

Fine Art print, white wood frame

Fine Art print, white wood frame

Specimen # 2789

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Fine Art print, white wood frame74

Fine Art print, white wood frame

Specimen # 241776 Fine Art print, white wood frame 77

the creative processt

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