Eric Rondepierre's Photogram Monograph Explores Cinematic Decomposition
A monograph on Eric Rondepierre, published by Éditions Léo Scheer, examines his work with photograms since 1969. The book, prefaced by Pierre Guyotat and featuring contributions from Daniel Arasse and Hubert Damisch, covers series such as Excédents, Annonces, Précis de décomposition, Stances, Diptka, and Suites. Excédents uses black frames with text from film subtitles, evoking iconic silences in films by Walter Ruttmann and Marguerite Duras. Annonces captures moments from trailers on editing tables, where emerging subtitles obscure characters. Précis de décomposition shows eroded photograms from heat, moisture, or chemicals, transforming actors into chimeric figures. Stances are photos taken from train windows, capturing the vertigo of motion. Diptka and Suites straddle two photograms, referencing Vertov's Man with a Movie Camera. Marie-José Mondzain links the work to negative theology and a theory of torn visibility.
Key facts
- Eric Rondepierre has worked with photograms since 1969.
- The monograph is published by Éditions Léo Scheer.
- Pierre Guyotat wrote the preface.
- Daniel Arasse and Hubert Damisch contributed texts.
- Excédents series uses black frames with subtitle text.
- Précis de décomposition uses chemically eroded photograms.
- Stances series captures views from train windows.
- Diptka and Suites reference Vertov's Man with a Movie Camera.
Entities
Artists
- Eric Rondepierre
- Pierre Guyotat
- Daniel Arasse
- Hubert Damisch
- Walter Ruttmann
- Marguerite Duras
- Marie-José Mondzain
- Louis-José Lestocart
- Dziga Vertov
Institutions
- Éditions Léo Scheer
Sources
- artpress —