Jean-Christian Bourcart's Photographic Memoir 'Sinon la mort te gagnait'
Le Point du Jour has published 'Sinon la mort te gagnait', a book by photographer Jean-Christian Bourcart that compiles written snapshots of his life. Bourcart, then 48, describes his existence as a 'draft' and aims to 'rewrite it cleanly' using the technique of photography. The memoir covers his childhood, adolescence, loss of virginity, first joints, work as a neighborhood photographer and wedding specialist, a near-death experience, travels to India and Mexico, drug and alcohol use, imprisonment in Moscow, Sarajevo, tumultuous love affairs, marriage, the birth of a son, and photo assignments in improbable locations. The text is dense and rapid, avoiding pathos or commentary. Critic Jacques Henric praises Bourcart's ability to excel in both image and writing, noting that the logic of one discipline imposes on the other.
Key facts
- Jean-Christian Bourcart published 'Sinon la mort te gagnait' with Le Point du Jour.
- The book is a collection of written snapshots of Bourcart's life.
- Bourcart was 48 years old at the time of writing.
- He describes his life as a 'draft' and aims to 'rewrite it cleanly'.
- The memoir covers childhood, adolescence, drug use, imprisonment in Moscow, Sarajevo, and marriage.
- Critic Jacques Henric wrote the accompanying text.
- Henric praises Bourcart's dual proficiency in image and writing.
- The book was reviewed in artpress in December 2008.
Entities
Artists
- Jean-Christian Bourcart
- Jacques Henric
Institutions
- Le Point du Jour
- artpress
Locations
- India
- Mexico
- Moscow
- Russia
- Sarajevo
Sources
- artpress —