Christelle Yambayisa
L'Envers, 2019
Dibon
70.0 × 105.0 cm
This series of twelve photographs was born from a carte blanche offered to the artist by the Repossi jewelry house, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of their Serti sur Vide collection. The artist's very intimate, even autobiographical photos bring out the different aspects of her personality, three of her innumerable facets. The lighting magnifies the reflects and elusive gazes of the model, Romane. For the artist, the model choice was highly significant. Romane represents a kind of alter ego for Christelle Yambayisa; her double. An appearance, a quest, a reflection that the artist experiences on a daily basis are showcased in the three parts of the exhibition: the façade, the reverse and the underside. The artist's first impression is of a dynamic young woman. The smooth, glamorous style of the photographs glorifies the beautiful, modern, strong woman. Christelle Yambayisa, as a professional model, thrives in a world where image is of utmost importance. This part highlights the most visible aspects of Christelle’s life: courage, vigilance, and confidence. The second part focuses on the hidden reality of her life, on the artist's daily growth. The control of her image, the need to break away from the established framework, her way of seizing her opportunities while seeking stability, this duality is transposed in Christelle's photographs. Finally, the underside of the photographer, with her doubts and melancholy. The images are darker; the frame is fragmented. The absence of photo titles invites viewers to project themselves into the artwork, to find their innermost emotions, their hidden selves. Yambayisa's work is concerned about identity and her sense of self as well as a pondering on exile. Through several trips to Kenya and Rwanda, she seeks to reconnect with her childhood and her homeland, which she was forced to leave in the wake of the Rwandan genocide. Her deep feeling of nostalgia emanates from the last part of the exhibition. The exhibition Christelle Yambayisa: Three Facets is a sort of manifesto where the artist searches for her identity. A great bashfulness transcends these photographs, concealing a broader questioning of the multiple facets of our lives: the contrast between the image we convey, the one we believe we have, and the one that really defines us. The exhibition prompts introspection, encouraging us all to explore our true selves.
This series of twelve photographs was born from a carte blanche offered to the artist by the Repossi jewelry house, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of their Serti sur Vide collection. The artist's very intimate, even autobiographical photos bring out the different aspects of her personality, three of her innumerable facets. The lighting magnifies the reflects and elusive gazes of the model, Romane. For the artist, the model choice was highly significant. Romane represents a kind of alter ego for Christelle Yambayisa; her double. An appearance, a quest, a reflection that the artist experiences on a daily basis are showcased in the three parts of the exhibition: the façade, the reverse and the underside. The artist's first impression is of a dynamic young woman. The smooth, glamorous style of the photographs glorifies the beautiful, modern, strong woman. Christelle Yambayisa, as a professional model, thrives in a world where image is of utmost importance. This part highlights the most visible aspects of Christelle’s life: courage, vigilance, and confidence. The second part focuses on the hidden reality of her life, on the artist's daily growth. The control of her image, the need to break away from the established framework, her way of seizing her opportunities while seeking stability, this duality is transposed in Christelle's photographs. Finally, the underside of the photographer, with her doubts and melancholy. The images are darker; the frame is fragmented. The absence of photo titles invites viewers to project themselves into the artwork, to find their innermost emotions, their hidden selves. Yambayisa's work is concerned about identity and her sense of self as well as a pondering on exile. Through several trips to Kenya and Rwanda, she seeks to reconnect with her childhood and her homeland, which she was forced to leave in the wake of the Rwandan genocide. Her deep feeling of nostalgia emanates from the last part of the exhibition. The exhibition Christelle Yambayisa: Three Facets is a sort of manifesto where the artist searches for her identity. A great bashfulness transcends these photographs, concealing a broader questioning of the multiple facets of our lives: the contrast between the image we convey, the one we believe we have, and the one that really defines us. The exhibition prompts introspection, encouraging us all to explore our true selves.