With the departure of Gilbert Garcin, an entire universe is disappearing … An unreal, poetic and philosophical world that he has managed to bring together in photomontages that have toured the planet.
From light to black and white
This lighting seller, a native of La Ciotat, had discovered photography late, once retired.
“In my previous life I never imagined having such an activity between 65 and 84 years old. I could see myself going fishing”, he told La Croix newspaper in 2013.
It was during an internship at the Arles Photography meetings that he discovered in 1995 the art of photomontage in black and white. The former light salesman finds his new way in this contrast.
Work of meticulousness and precision, Gilbert Garcin says to find a little of “his passion for the mechanics and reduced models” which animated him during his childhood.
But at the heart of his achievements, he quickly placed two characters, clones of his wife and himself. He names his figure “Mister G”, and dresses him with his stepfather’s overcoat.
“It makes him a neutral character, a bit out of time”, he confided to director Ralph Kämpfe, in 2013.
The appearance of Mister G brings to mind both Monsieur Hulot by Jacques Tati and stature like no other by Hitchcock.
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Philosophy and poetry in black and white
Mister G and his feminine double are miniatures that the artist places at will in paintings he makes himself.
The sand of the beaches of La Ciotat where he lived often serves as a background for his compositions. He adds all kinds of objects to it. And photographs the whole in black and white.
Painful to learn the death of Gilbert Garcin, late photographer, whose photomontages mix with lightness, tender poetry, dreamlike and philosophy on the human condition. To discover or re-discover. pic.twitter.com/nI2yg73AgB
– Cédric Maurin (@ced_maurin) April 18, 2020
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The whole gives a surrealist atmosphere, which undoubtedly recalls paintings by Magritte.
“It is a great pleasure to create the illusion … Constantly I deceive people”, he said mischievously.
Because the photographer places his characters in an abstract, timeless, poetic, philosophical … and funny setting.
You have to take a step back, not take yourself seriously
he clarified to Ralph Kämpfe. “You have to cover it all with a layer of humor … Besides, I don’t force myself. It’s natural, it comes like that”.
These are his “reflections of the day “ that inspired the photographer. He acted mainly “by sensitivity, by instinct “.
“JI was not formatted by a school of fine arts, I was not put on the rails.
I benefited a little from this isolation to build my own little universe.
Mister G and his partner have traveled through galleries around the world.
Thanks to his miniatures, Gilbert Garcin thus found his place among the greats.
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