In 2003, André Farro, in association with Jean-Claude Leichnam, took over the Vendôme Gallery, created in 1956, and since then has exhibited internationally renowned painters and sculptors.
Their credo: to make discover to all, amateurs and collectors of quality artists.
In 2009, the Gallery offers us an ephemeral exhibition concept that it has simply named artlib. It is a one-time event that gives carte blanche one day a month to a young contemporary artist presenting an original and innovative work through multiple media (paintings, sculptures, photographs, design …). Because art must remain free of all constraints.
Such an approach is rewarding and stimulating for a young artist who doesn’t exhibit much and who can see his works highlighted in a prestigious setting for an evening. And this allows the gallery to propose concomitantly known and less known artists, people exhibiting a lot and others less, which is all to its credit and shows its love of art above all.
During its last artlib’ event, the Galerie Vendôme invited us to discover the photographs on canvas and paper of Olivier Tops, a humanist photographer from Megève. He offers canvas and mixed media prints of his walks in New York and Paris, as well as original photographs of New York. Olivier does not necessarily seek to be in a gallery at all costs, he prefers to exhibit in unexpected places and thus confront himself with other arts.
Olivier Tops does everything himself, from photography to printing on canvas, and has invested in a huge machine to make his own prints. He modifies his photos very little, sometimes he paints some details on his prints but that’s all he allows himself. We feel first of all a search of aestheticism but also of authenticity in his work. Instead of the usual photos playing with the graphic spirit and the perspective of New-York, Olivier offers us photos with a lot of roundness, photos where he played with his wide-angle and panoramic format. The photos are long, taken at the closest distance he could afford, giving an unparalleled sense of intimacy. And his photos are emotional, we feel perfectly the emotion of the click. It was this moment and not another.
As much as we feel a love installed for New York, as much his love story with Paris is only at its beginnings. He is still looking for that little extra that will build his story with the city of light. We can’t wait to see what happens next, especially since several of his photos are competing for the SFR Jeunes talents Photo&Grafic Contest Prize in partnership with the Polka Gallery.
Olivier Tops deserves a more than close look. He is one of the artists who make photography a major art, what his lens captures and restores to us remains with the emotion of the moment. And for that we thank him.
Loïc Allemand le printemps
The gallery also exposes until Saturday, March 27th, 2010 Loïc Allemand, contemporary painter and draughtsman of talents. One look at his paintings was enough to seduce me.
The Vendôme Gallery knows how to choose its artists, it chooses them with a constant love of art and offers them to our amateur eyes for our greatest pleasure.
THE VENDOME GALLERY
Cour du 12 rue de la Paix 75002 PARIS
Tel: 01 42 61 73 91
Fax: 01 40 20 05 20
Website: www.galerievendome.fr
Marie-Odile Radom