Preface: In “Up in Smokes”, Denis Olivier and
Emma Norris are exploring the object and its many facets. Both artists have attempted to explore objects in both abstract and objective ways. They have taken different approaches in the way they have done this, with Olivier focusing in non-‐saturated tones and Norris preferring more saturated ones. Both artists exhibit depth of field in the majority of their works and enjoy manipulating the angles at which they photograph. Overall, “Up in Smokes” is a strong collection of photographs from two artists who focus on the object above all else. Olivier is from Bordeaux France and Norris is from Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
Denis Olivier Biography: Denis Olivier was born Royan, France in the year of 1969. He describes his first experience with photography as such: “My first encounter with photography took place when my parents performed some strange static dances with an object in front of their face. Later they would close themselves up in a special room under the house for long periods of time, and no one was allowed in. They diligently made sure that they were left to their own devices while inside. One day I was given permission to enter the room and allowed to stay, but on the condition that I didn’t move or went out. I remember there was a unique chemical perfume and a red light.” After this experience Olivier did not immediately jump into photography, he was much too young to understand the mechanics of it and preferred drawing anyway. He continued this as a teenager and added paint to his list of interests. At the age of seventeen the photography bug bit him again, and after a three year stint as a biochem major, he switched to the Poitiers school of fine-arts. He had a particular interest in computer graphics and generated imagery and while there was again introduced to photography by Alain Feig. He spent of lot of time practicing and studying photography all around France and had his first personal exhibition in a gallery during his second year at Poitiers. He went on to train with Philippe Salaün (Robert Doisneau’s developer). He then did jobs for organizations, shows, and some commissioned work. He started experimenting more with technology (computers, digital cameras) as new forms of photography came out.
He now lives in Bordeaux, France.
Denis Olivier, Classic Romance, April, 24,2005
Â
Emma Norris, Push, 2014
Denis Olivier, #513, March 27,2005
Emma Norris, Disk, 2014
Denis Olivier, Laught Spirits, July 22, 2004
Emma Norris, Garbage Chain, 2014
Denis Olivier, Gone Into The Night, February 25, 2007
Emma Norris, Stone Fence, 2014