up in smokes

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 O

livier, Classic R

omance, A

pril, 24,2005

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