FRANCE – PARIS
As a child, Martin Essl spent most of his time in his father’s darkroom. He discovered a consuming passion for photography. Originally from Austria, the photographer studied at a number of art schools, including the Linz University of Art. Following his studies, he moved to the 18th arrondissement of Paris, not far from the Château Rouge metro station. This adventure inspired a photographic trilogy entitled Le Château Rouge.
From 2012 to 2020, Martin Essl tells a story, leaving the outcome up to the viewer. He invites us on a journey through his cinematic shots, where the magic of a moment is sublimated. The photographer – represented by Galerie Esther Woerdehoff – poetically captures a fragment of life left behind by a stranger, or an intimate scene from everyday life.
From a store window to a naked body, the photographer highlights the sublime with sensuality. The predominance of pastel colours in his photographs immerses the viewer in an angelic, even idyllic atmosphere. Every detail of everyday life, at first sight trivial, represents for the photographer a picture to be contemplated with admiration.
The first version of his Château Rouge N°1 series was published by Kehrer Verlag in 2015.
36 rue Falguière, 75015 Paris
MARINE MIMOUNI