Portfolio

NOÉMIE BAUMANN

PORTFOLIO

CONTENTS

I. BIOGRAPHY (p. 5)

LANDSCAPES : these photographic series revolve around the essence of water. One project takes on a worldwide exploration, capturing the diverse and enchanting forms water assumes across various corners of the globe, aiming to ignite renewed appreciation for the beauty that surrounds us. In contrast, the second project adopts a more introspective stance, transforming the waters of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat into an immersive experience. It invites viewers to delve into an inner journey, engaging their senses and questioning their revlationship with water, themselves, as well as the concepts of belonging, home, life and death.

II. THE SEA : summer 2023 (p. 6 - 29)

III. THE WATER : 2014 - ongoing (p. 30 - 61)

CITYSCAPES : drawing inspiration from Baudelaire’s vision of feminine forms in nature, the first series employs architecture as a canvas to explore the delicate balance between strength and vulnerability, revealing how architecture can evoke emotion, transport us to other realms, and connect with our sensuality. The earlier project was a initially a discovery of analogue photography and a study of New York City’s vibrant energy, iconic architecture and chaotic pace. Gradually it became a journey of self-exploration as a student, an artist, and a young woman in a foreign land.

IV. THE CURVE : 2010 - 2020 (p. 62 - 83)

V. THE LINE : 2010 (p. 84 - 103)

VI. CV (p. 105)

Contact:

+33 (0)6 43 47 46 00 noemie.baumann@gmail.com

Portfolio: https://www.noemiebaumann.com

https://issuu.com/noemie.baumann/docs/nb

Noémie is a French Fine Art photographer with roots in Italy, Estonia, and Ukraine who draws inspiration from the rich diversity of cultures that have shaped her identity. Growing up in Nice, she was surrounded by the colorful buildings of the French Riviera, her love for architecture has grown and continued to evolve as she traveled the world. Her passion for analogue photography blossomed during her time at the Parsons School of Design in New York City, where she studied photography and honed her skills with a Hasselblad 500c.

More than a form of meditation, photography is for Noémie a way to fully immerse herself in the present moment and capture a sense of calm and timelessness in her images.

Over time, her focus shifted from black and white to color photography, from sharp angles and lines, to sensuous curves, from cityscapes to landscapes. She has increasingly been drawn to water, as an element and as a metaphor to delve deep within and explore the profound essence of what truly constitutes a home. Having lived in New York City, Berlin, Milan, Moscow, Nice and Tunis, she is now based in Paris, but Home is where the Mediterranean is.

Installation composed of: 3m x 3m photographs (printed on metal)

sounds art objects (physical water, salt and capsules with smells

THE SEA

Embracing a complex heritage woven across Franco-Italian, Estonian-Jewish and Ukrainian, the intricate tapestry of my identity has always eluded simplicity. The notion of belonging remains enigmatic, amplified by my nomadic spirit that has carried me through diverse continents over a decade, from New York City to Berlin, Milan, Moscow, Paris, Nice, and Tunis. Amidst this whirlwind, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat stands as my unwavering sanctuary – a place where I genuinely feel rooted, particularly when immersed in the water.

My earliest years unfolded against the backdrop of the shimmering Bay of Villefranche-Sur-Mer. Swimming before walking, my childhood memories are intertwined with hours spent alongside my mother in the sea, endless hours playing with neighbors, scarring encounters with jellyfish, all form a mosaic of water-bound memories. However mesmerising this element can be, full of life and happiness, it also makes me reflect on loss and death. My mother battling with cancer for over two decades, I became acutely conscious of her mortality - and by extension my own - from a very young age. Photography, moments spent with our loved ones, life - everything is ephemeral, but it’s this tragic impermanence that gives it meaning and beauty.

This series embarks on an enchanting odyssey to capture portraits of this magical element, a pursuit as profound as it is elusive. These works will be presented as an installation offering an immersive sensorial voyage: vast photographs of the sea, accompanied by recorded sounds, fragrances, and vessels containing the very water (physical or evaporated) harvested from its embrace. Viewers will journey through the space, delving introspectively and discovering the senses that resonate within.

«Sea Portrait 1», St Jean Cap Ferrat, July 2023

«Sea Portrait 2», St Jean Cap Ferrat, July 2023

Portrait «3», St Jean Cap Ferrat, July 2023

«Sea Portrait 4», St Jean Cap Ferrat, July 2023

«Sea Portrait 5», St Jean Cap Ferrat, July 2023

«Sea Portrait 6», St Jean Cap Ferrat, July 2023

«Sea Portrait 7», St Jean Cap Ferrat, July 2023

Portrait 8», St Jean Cap Ferrat, July 2023

«Sea Portrait 9», St Jean Cap Ferrat, July 2023

Portrait 10», St Jean Cap Ferrat, July 2023

Portrait 11», St Jean Cap Ferrat, July 2023

Works available in two sizes and two editions:

45 x 45 cm (edition of 25)

80 x 80cm (edition of 8)

Archival Prints on Fine Art Baryta Hahnemühle paper

THE WATER

As a passionate swimmer and skier, water has always held a special place in my heart, it endlessly captivates and inspires me. With this series, I embarked on a global journey to capture the diverse and enchanting manifestations of water. Water symbolizes freedom, fluidity, and the ever-changing wonders of life. It embodies the duality of constant transformation and timeless presence.

From the serene Mediterranean Sea, to the patterns left on the sand by the Pacific Ocean tides, to a mesmerizing Costa Rican waterfall and the surreal stillness of the Dead Sea, I seek to capture the essence of water and to ignite a sense of wonder and awe within viewers. Additionally, I photographed the ethereal allure of clouds observed from airplane windows, the mystifying veils of fog across winter landscapes, and the ever-changing dance of air in harmony with water.

In David Foster Wallace’s essay, «This is Water,» he shares the tale of two young fish swimming side by side, encountering an elder fish swimming in the opposite direction. The elder fish greets them with a nod and asks, «Morning, boys, how’s the water?» The two young fish swim on for a while, until one of them finally turns to the other and inquires, «What the hell is water?». This anecdote resonates deeply with me, emphasizing the significance of appreciating what we often overlook and finding beauty in even the most ordinary aspects of life.

Water, in its myriad forms, serves as my muse. With each photograph, I hope to awaken a newfound appreciation for the beauty that surrounds us, to instill a reverence for nature’s boundless wonders.

«Bondi Beach 2», Australia, January 2018 & «Tunis to Nice 1», Tunisia, December 2022

«Tide 1», Costa Rica, March 2023 & «Tunis to Nice 2», Tunisia, February 2023

«Tunis to Nice 3», Tunisia, February 2023, «Saint Germain 2», Tunisia, March 2023

«Bondi Beach 1», Australia, January 2018

«Jurmala Beach 1», Latvia, January 2017

«Brighton Pier», UK, August 2017

Works available in two sizes and two editions:

45 x 45 cm (edition of 25)

80 x 80cm (edition of 8)

Archival Prints on Fine Art Baryta Hahnemühle paper

THE CURVE

«Invitation to the Voyage» is a gem within Charles Baudelaire’s «The Flowers of Evil,» published in 1857. This poem opens a door to a world where beauty, serenity, and dreams intertwine—a realm where reality and imagination merge harmoniously.

In this series I seek to capture this same allure and sensuality, using architecture as a metaphor for the female form. Through my camera’s lens, I reveal the parallels between architectural structures and the delicate intricacies of human anatomy. This exploration uncovers a captivating duality, where strength meets fragility and power embraces vulnerability. The graceful lines of architectural marvels and the interplay of light and shadow on their surfaces captivate my gaze.

Beyond architectural aesthetics, this project delves into how architecture triggers emotions, transports us to undiscovered territories, and connects us with our sensuality and desires.

As viewers immerse themselves in these frozen moments, I extend an invitation—a call to perceive the world afresh. By viewing architecture through a sensual lens, I guide viewers into an uncharted realm where the ordinary takes on extraordinary grace. These visual narratives serve as catalysts, unfurling the wings of imagination and prompting inner odysseys of beauty and wonder.

«Mall», Tokyo, August 2015

Works available in two sizes and two editions:

40 x 60 cm (edition of 25)

80 x 120 cm (edition of 8)

Archival Prints on Fine Art Baryta Hahnemühle paper

THE LINE

In 2010, I ventured into the vibrant heart of New York City armed with my new 35mm Canon camera. The city’s dynamic energy and iconic architecture immediately resonated with me. I took to the city’s bustling streets, where the bold lines and captivating shadows cast by towering skyscrapers drew me into the very geometry of the city’s design.

Amidst the ceaseless bustle of the city, I stumbled upon an unexpected tranquility as I wandered through its labyrinthine paths. Within the quiet confines of the darkroom, where photographs transformed from latent images to tangible prints, I uncovered a serene ritual.

From a simple school assignment, this project became a way to discover the city in which I would live for the next 5 years and ultimately evolve into a profound path of self-discovery. My camera ceased to be just a tool—it transformed into an extension of my voice within the urban tapestry.

This project grew beyond a means to explore the world of analog photography; it became a journey allowing me to probe into my identity as a student, an artist, and a young woman in a foreign land. As my camera captured the city’s heartbeat, it also reflected my own growth and transformation against its breathtaking backdrop.

EDUCATION

Nuova Academia dei Belli Arti (NABA)

MFA - Visual Arts

Milan, Italy / 2017 - 2018

Parsons the New School for Design

BFA - Photography

New York City, USA / 2010 - 2014

RESIDENCIES & PRIZES

The Schoolhouse at Mutianyu

Mutianyu, China / September 2015

GALLERY REPRESENTATION

Albumen Gallery, London

EXHIBITIONS

kvARTirnik (group show)

House Exhibition, Fundraising for Ukraine Paris, France / April 2022

Femmes Capitales (group show)

Galerie de Thorigny

Paris, France / February 2017

2.5D (Parsons Group Show)

Milk Gallery

New York City, USA / June 2014

Art and Fear (Group Show)

Hermitage State Museum

St Petersburg, Russia / June 2013