Georges Rousse
Encyclopedia
"Georges Rousse is a French artist.
When he was 9 years old, Rousse received the legendary Kodak Brownie camera as a Christmas
gift. Since then, the camera has never left his side. While attending medical school
in Nice
, he decided to study professional photography
and printing
techniques, then opened his own studio dedicated to architectural photography
. Soon, his passion for the medium led to devote himself entirely to photography, following in the footsteps of such great American masters as Steichen
, Stieglitz
and Ansel Adams
.
After he discovered Land Art
and Malevich's Black Square Against a White Field, Georges Rousse altered his relationship to photography, inventing a unique approach that shifted the relationship of painting to space. He began making installations in the types of abandoned or derelict buildings that have long held an attraction for him—creating ephemeral
, one-of-a-kind artworks by transforming these sites into pictorial spaces that are visible only in his photographs.
From the early 1980s on, Georges Rousse has chosen to show his photographs on a large scale, so that his viewers participate in the work and experience the sense of space in a compelling way.
Collapsing the usual restrictions between artistic mediums, his unique body of work quickly made its mark on the contemporary art
world. Since his first exhibition in Paris
, at the Galerie de France in 1981, Georges Rousse has continued creating his installations and showing his photographs around the world, in Europe
, in Asia
(Japan
, Korea
, China
, Nepal
), in the United States
, in Quebec
and in Latin America
.
He has participated in numerous biennales (Paris
, Venice
, Sydney
) and received many prestigious awards:
1983: Villa Medicis hors les murs, New York
1985 -1987: Villa Medicis, Rome
1988: International Center of Photography Award, New York
1989: Salon de Montrouge Drawing Prize
1992: Romain Roland Fellowship, Calcutta
1993: National Grand Prix of Photography
2008: Succeeded Sol LeWitt
as an associate member of the Belgian Royal Academy
He is represented by several European galleries and his works are included in many major collections the world over.
Georges Rousse was born in 1947 in Paris, where he currently lives and works.
When he was 9 years old, Rousse received the legendary Kodak Brownie camera as a Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
gift. Since then, the camera has never left his side. While attending medical school
Medical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution—or part of such an institution—that teaches medicine. Degree programs offered at medical schools often include Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Bachelor/Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, master's degree, or other post-secondary...
in Nice
Nice
Nice is the fifth most populous city in France, after Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse, with a population of 348,721 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Nice extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of more than 955,000 on an area of...
, he decided to study professional photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
and printing
Printing
Printing is a process for reproducing text and image, typically with ink on paper using a printing press. It is often carried out as a large-scale industrial process, and is an essential part of publishing and transaction printing....
techniques, then opened his own studio dedicated to architectural photography
Architectural photography
Architectural photography is the practice of photographing buildings and similar structures, both inside and out. Architectural photographs are usually produced by Architectural photographers, who are skilled in the use of specialized techniques and equipment...
. Soon, his passion for the medium led to devote himself entirely to photography, following in the footsteps of such great American masters as Steichen
Steichen
Steichen is a surname that may refer to:* Donna Steichen, US Catholic journalist* Edward Jean Steichen, Luxembourgian-American photographer and artist** Mary Steichen Calderone , a physician and a public health advocate; daughter of Edward...
, Stieglitz
Stieglitz
-People:*Ludwig von Stieglitz , court banker of czars Alexander I and Nicholas I of Russia*Alexander von Stieglitz , son of Ludwig, first head of State Bank of the Russian Empire and philanthropist...
and Ansel Adams
Ansel Adams
Ansel Easton Adams was an American photographer and environmentalist, best known for his black-and-white photographs of the American West, especially in Yosemite National Park....
.
After he discovered Land Art
Land art
Land art, Earthworks , or Earth art is an art movement which emerged in the United States in the late 1960s and early 1970s, in which landscape and the work of art are inextricably linked...
and Malevich's Black Square Against a White Field, Georges Rousse altered his relationship to photography, inventing a unique approach that shifted the relationship of painting to space. He began making installations in the types of abandoned or derelict buildings that have long held an attraction for him—creating ephemeral
Ephemeral
Ephemeral things are transitory, existing only briefly. Typically the term is used to describe objects found in nature, although it can describe a wide range of things....
, one-of-a-kind artworks by transforming these sites into pictorial spaces that are visible only in his photographs.
From the early 1980s on, Georges Rousse has chosen to show his photographs on a large scale, so that his viewers participate in the work and experience the sense of space in a compelling way.
Collapsing the usual restrictions between artistic mediums, his unique body of work quickly made its mark on the contemporary art
Contemporary art
Contemporary art can be defined variously as art produced at this present point in time or art produced since World War II. The definition of the word contemporary would support the first view, but museums of contemporary art commonly define their collections as consisting of art produced...
world. Since his first exhibition in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, at the Galerie de France in 1981, Georges Rousse has continued creating his installations and showing his photographs around the world, in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
(Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
), in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
and in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
.
He has participated in numerous biennales (Paris
Biennale de Paris
-History:The 'Biennale de Paris' was launched by Raymond Cogniat in 1959 and set up by André Malraux as he was Minister of Culture to present an overview of young creativity worldwide and to create a place of experiences and meetings.-Presentation:...
, Venice
Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
, Sydney
Biennale of Sydney
The Biennale of Sydney is an international festival of contemporary art, held every two years in Sydney, Australia. It is the largest and best-attended contemporary visual arts event in the country...
) and received many prestigious awards:
1983: Villa Medicis hors les murs, 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...
1985 -1987: Villa Medicis, Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
1988: International Center of Photography Award, New York
1989: Salon de Montrouge Drawing Prize
1992: Romain Roland Fellowship, Calcutta
1993: National Grand Prix of Photography
2008: Succeeded Sol LeWitt
Sol LeWitt
Solomon "Sol" LeWitt was an American artist linked to various movements, including Conceptual art and Minimalism....
as an associate member of the Belgian Royal Academy
He is represented by several European galleries and his works are included in many major collections the world over.
Georges Rousse was born in 1947 in Paris, where he currently lives and works.