Christophe Agou
Encyclopedia
Christophe Agou
Christophe Agou (born 1969, Montbrison
, France
) is a French documentary photographer currently living in New York City.
Self-taught photographer, Christophe Agou grew up in a small town in the Forez
region. He moved to New York
in 1992 where he developed a love for the city and for photography. He began making photographs in the streets and within that work he evoked a sense of longing and isolation. He first came to prominence with his powerful photographs made in the New York City Subway
, and published Life Below in 2004 (Quantuck Lane Press / W.W. Norton & Company).
Agou's work is held in the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts
, Houston; Neuberger Museum of Art, Purchase; Smithsonian American Art Museum
, Washington, D.C.; The Akron Art Museum, Akron; Southeast Museum of Photography
, Daytona;The New-York Historical Society; The New York Public Library, New York City and Les Galeries Photo Fnac, France.
In 2006, he was chosen as a finalist for both the prestigious W. Eugene Smith
Award, and for le Prix de la Photographie de l’Académie des Beaux-Arts
de Paris in 2008. He received a ‘Mention Spéciale‘ for Le Prix Kodak de la Critique Photographique in 2009. In 2010, Christophe Agou won the prestigious European Publishers Award for Photography for his project Face au Silence.
region, which lies on the eastern side of the Massif Central
. This is the region where he was born and lived until the age of 16, a region for which he still has a deep affection. Christophe traveled to the lesser-known parts of the region, where he felt inspired by the silence and moved by the authenticity and charisma of the people he encountered. Over time, and through the gradual process of building trust and friendship, the farmers and their families accepted him and allowed him to both photograph and film their daily existence. The work goes beyond just documenting their labor-intensive lives and present a deeper, more intimate portrait. For Christophe Agou, Face au Silence is a meditation on life and death as well as the silence and solitude that are ever-present in our lives.
Christophe Agou (born 1969, Montbrison
Montbrison
Montbrison is the name of several communes of France:* Montbrison, in the Loire département* Montbrison-sur-Lez, in the Drôme département...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) is a French documentary photographer currently living in New York City.
Biography
Since the early 1990s, Christophe Agou has been building up a body of compelling photographs that take an allusive approach to the human condition. He is noted for his intimate and personal documentary-style black-and-white and colour photographs. Christophe had extended his expression into other media, always working intuitively, making assemblages and short films.Self-taught photographer, Christophe Agou grew up in a small town in the Forez
Forez
Forez is a former province of France, corresponding approximately to the central part of the modern Loire département and a part of the Haute-Loire and Puy-de-Dôme départements....
region. He moved to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1992 where he developed a love for the city and for photography. He began making photographs in the streets and within that work he evoked a sense of longing and isolation. He first came to prominence with his powerful photographs made in the New York City Subway
New York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
, and published Life Below in 2004 (Quantuck Lane Press / W.W. Norton & Company).
Agou's work is held in the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts
Museum of Fine Arts
The Museum of Fine Arts may refer to:* Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts, United States** Museum of Fine Arts , which is near the museum* Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas, United States...
, Houston; Neuberger Museum of Art, Purchase; Smithsonian American Art Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
The Smithsonian American Art Museum is a museum in Washington, D.C. with an extensive collection of American art.Part of the Smithsonian Institution, the museum has a broad variety of American art that covers all regions and art movements found in the United States...
, Washington, D.C.; The Akron Art Museum, Akron; Southeast Museum of Photography
Southeast Museum of Photography
The Southeast Museum of Photography is located in Daytona Beach, Florida, on the campus of Daytona State College. It opened in 1992, and moved to a new facility in 2007....
, Daytona;The New-York Historical Society; The New York Public Library, New York City and Les Galeries Photo Fnac, France.
In 2006, he was chosen as a finalist for both the prestigious W. Eugene Smith
W. Eugene Smith
William Eugene Smith was an American photojournalist known for his refusal to compromise professional standards and his brutally vivid World War II photographs.- Life and work :...
Award, and for le Prix de la Photographie de l’Académie des Beaux-Arts
Académie des beaux-arts
The Académie des Beaux-Arts is a French learned society. It is one of the five academies of the Institut de France.It was created in 1795 as the merger of the:* Académie de peinture et de sculpture...
de Paris in 2008. He received a ‘Mention Spéciale‘ for Le Prix Kodak de la Critique Photographique in 2009. In 2010, Christophe Agou won the prestigious European Publishers Award for Photography for his project Face au Silence.
Life Below
For his Life Below series Christophe Agou presents a moving, lyrical, and surprisingly personal portrait of the New York subway. The revealing images of fleeting acquaintances and proximity are often shot at such a close range, one marvels at the accomplishment, and sees in them something enduring and timeless. The compelling photographs are an intimate rendezvous with people in a meditative state: people from all walks of life who have not yet put on a mask. This is at times a dark, but always-sensitive view of a corner of our world.Face au Silence / In The Face of Silence
In the winter of 2002, Christophe Agou began documenting the lives of French family farmers living and working in the ForezForez
Forez is a former province of France, corresponding approximately to the central part of the modern Loire département and a part of the Haute-Loire and Puy-de-Dôme départements....
region, which lies on the eastern side of the Massif Central
Massif Central
The Massif Central is an elevated region in south-central France, consisting of mountains and plateaux....
. This is the region where he was born and lived until the age of 16, a region for which he still has a deep affection. Christophe traveled to the lesser-known parts of the region, where he felt inspired by the silence and moved by the authenticity and charisma of the people he encountered. Over time, and through the gradual process of building trust and friendship, the farmers and their families accepted him and allowed him to both photograph and film their daily existence. The work goes beyond just documenting their labor-intensive lives and present a deeper, more intimate portrait. For Christophe Agou, Face au Silence is a meditation on life and death as well as the silence and solitude that are ever-present in our lives.
Statements by Christophe Agou about his work
The distance between a photographer and his subject should not be greater than his arm's length
When I use the camera, I often feel like I know part of the person or place I come in contact with.
Looking and seeing are two different notions. One is to observe without being seen, the other, is to create an emotional connection with your subject.
The mysteries of the human soul fascinate me the most and photography allows me to reveal on a deeper level what is under the surface.
Collections
- Museum of Fine ArtsMuseum of Fine ArtsThe Museum of Fine Arts may refer to:* Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts, United States** Museum of Fine Arts , which is near the museum* Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas, United States...
Houston, USA - Neuberger Museum of Art Purchase, USA
- Smithsonian American Art MuseumSmithsonian American Art MuseumThe Smithsonian American Art Museum is a museum in Washington, D.C. with an extensive collection of American art.Part of the Smithsonian Institution, the museum has a broad variety of American art that covers all regions and art movements found in the United States...
Washington D.C., USA - The Akron Art Museum Akron, USA
- Southeast Museum of PhotographySoutheast Museum of PhotographyThe Southeast Museum of Photography is located in Daytona Beach, Florida, on the campus of Daytona State College. It opened in 1992, and moved to a new facility in 2007....
Daytona, USA - The New York Public Library New York, USA
- The New-York Historical Society New York, USA
- Galeries Photo-Fnac Paris, France
- Collection of The Joy of Giving Something, New York, USA
Monographs
- Life Below, The New York City SubwayNew York City SubwayThe New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
, Quantuck Lane Press / W.W. Norton & Company - published 2004, ISBN 1593720084 - Face au Silence, Actes Sud - published 2010, ISBN 2742795421
- In the Face of Silence, Dewi Lewis Publishing - published 2011, ISBN 1907893040
- Di Fronte al Silenzio, Peliti Associati - published 2011, ISBN 888941247X
- Gesichter der Stille, Edition Braus - published 2011, ISBN 3862280039
- Ante el Silencio, Lunwerg Editores - published 2011, ISBN 9788497857185
- Aπέναντι Στη Σιωπή, Apeiron Photos - published 2011