François Prost's Guest Essay on Nightclub Facades as Machines for Manufacturing Desire
In a guest essay featured in designboom's SPECTATOR AND SPECTACLE chapter, François Prost, a photographer from Paris, explores the façades of nightclubs as visual devices that suggest experiences. His interest in nightclub photography began in 2011 after he stumbled upon a converted farmhouse club in Burgundy. Prost captures the exteriors of clubs throughout France and beyond, highlighting their use of visual elements to express the atmosphere within. He posits that these façades act like advertisements, revealing hints of their allure when seen in natural light. His project encompasses American gentlemen's clubs, Japanese love hotels, and venues in Côte d'Ivoire. Born in 1980, Prost has released six monographic books and gained international acclaim. This essay is part of designboom's collaboration with SolidNature.
Key facts
- François Prost is a Parisian photographer and art director born in 1980.
- He began photographing nightclubs in 2011 after seeing a converted farmhouse club in Burgundy.
- His work focuses on nightclub facades as image-making machines that promise experiences.
- He photographs in daylight to reveal the architecture behind the spectacle.
- The project has expanded to American gentlemen's clubs, Japanese love hotels, and clubs in Côte d'Ivoire.
- Prost has published six monographic books, including After Party, Gentlemen's Club, Club Ivoire, and Love Hotel.
- His books are distributed by D.A.P./Artbook, Antenne Books, and Interart.
- The essay is part of designboom's SPECTATOR AND SPECTACLE chapter, presented in partnership with SolidNature.
Entities
Artists
- François Prost
Institutions
- designboom
- SolidNature
- D.A.P./Artbook
- Antenne Books
- Interart
Locations
- Burgundy
- France
- Europe
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Alicante province
- Spain
- Chilly-Mazarin
- Essonne
- Missillac
- Loire-Atlantique
- Vannes
- Morbihan
- La Jonquera
- Girona province
- Tarragona province
- Valencia province
- Lloret de Mar
- Beauvais
- Oise
- Condrieu
- Rhône-Alpes
- Montbazens
- Aveyron
- Oursbelille
- Hautes-Pyrénées
- Paris
- Las Vegas
- Greece
- Miami
- United States
- Japan
- Alicante
- Girona
- Tarragona
- Valencia
Sources
- Designboom —
- Designboom —