Frank Perrin's 'Post-Capitalism' Photographs Critique Consumer Culture

Frank Perrin's exhibition at Galerie Philippe Jousse in Paris (September 9–October 17, 2006) presents two series: 'Post-capitalism' and 'Camel toes.' The 'Post-capitalism' series features six panoramic photographs of commercial streets in major global cities, including New York's 5th Avenue, a Tokyo boulevard, and Milan's Armani store. Each image is a collage of two or three negatives, capturing the urban imaginary and the saturation of city centers with shops and advertising. The series critiques the transformation of the flâneur into a shopper, referencing Walter Benjamin's concept of the 'passage.' The 'Camel toes' series stems from an internet phenomenon of photos showing female genitalia outlined by tight clothing. Perrin reconstructs the narrative of a modern female shopper, exploring how the intimate becomes public spectacle. The works engage with historical figures like Baudelaire, Breton, Debord, and contemporary artist Stanley Brouwn, using photography as a dialectical image to reveal the tension between past and present urban experience.