Akron Gallery through the work of Laetitia Heisler wants to promote analogue photography and encourage the public appreciation of the medium.
Laetitia Heisler is a French-German self-taught analog experimental photographer who lives in the north of Germany and grew up in the south of France. Before running the world with her Pentax, Me Super, Laetitia was busy being on tour with her rock band.
Her analog photographic journey began with instant photography, in order to keep memories of her musical adventure with the band. Then, after two trips to India and therapy, she taught herself how to double expose instant pictures with her Lomo ‘instant wide in order to illustrate self-portraits of the pain she had trouble putting into words. Daily meditation and immersion into the forest were also accompanying this art-therapy process. She says that her greatest source of inspiration is bodies, changes in nature, and feelings that remind her of the « ephemeral character of life ». Very quickly she moved to 35mm photography and worked with different kinds of artists: photographers, models, and musicians. She thinks that the beauty of life can be found anywhere, anytime, even in the city, and even in death. She doesn’t see Art as a hobby, but more as a duty she owed to Life.
“My double exposures, triple exposures, or more are a way for me to show how I experience the world and life: like a continuous change. Everybody, everything, and every being are interdependent. The serie «forest is the temple» is illustrating a body & mind healing process thanks to daily immersion into the woods. These are the main subjects that lead my artwork: changes and ephemerality. The way I proceed is not that complicated. First, I shoot the entire film once with a chosen background that inspires me bliss: plants, forest, flowers but also skies, lights, or buildings. Then a few days, weeks or sometimes even months later, I shoot the film a second time with portraits and self-portraits.
My favorite combination is forest and portraits because I think that forests are the perfect place to illustrate the cohabitation of life and death: from dead leaves grow new plants. And through my pictures, I like to remind people that death is a part of our lives, not only at the end but also daily: every day our cells are regenerating and letting old useless stuff die.
This is what I experienced during meditation retreats and what I think is so difficult to put into words. To resume, with my analog work I want to show my vision of life: just an experience of life and death. Today I work as a freelance artist, selling and exhibiting my art. I’m now learning in the darkroom with an experienced analog photographer to be completely independent, from shooting to framing!”
For more works of Laetitia Heisler https://laetitiaheisler.com and @laetitiaheisler
ANALOGUE IN DIGITAL EXHIBITION // Analogue photography exhibition is presented digitally.
Opening times
Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11:00 - 16:00