Jonathan Abbou's 'Fiction Urbaine' Explores Decayed Parisian Landscapes
Jonathan Abbou's self-published second photobook 'Fiction Urbaine' (Éditions Aliénor) presents a gritty, hand-manipulated vision of Montreuil and the Paris suburbs. Shot with an Hasselblad, the images are scratched, torn, and colored with ink and cotton, making each print unique. The photographs feature young women posing amid masks, mannequins, and urban decay, evoking the spirit of writers Jouhandeau and Montherlant. Abbou's technique involves direct treatment of negatives with inks and abrasions, ensuring no two prints are identical. Notable images include a girl with a gas mask in an abandoned industrial zone and a mummy watching porn on a monitor. The text is deemed unnecessary. Abbou had previously published 'Erotiques esquisses' in 1998. A notable exhibition of his work was held at Studio Simonis.
Key facts
- Jonathan Abbou published 'Fiction Urbaine' as a self-produced second photobook.
- The book is published by Éditions Aliénor.
- Abbou's first collection 'Erotiques esquisses' was published in 1998.
- The photographs depict Montreuil and the outskirts of Paris.
- Images were shot with an Hasselblad camera.
- Each print is unique due to hand manipulation with ink and cotton.
- Notable image: a girl with a gas mask in an abandoned industrial zone.
- A notable exhibition of Abbou's work was held at Studio Simonis.
Entities
Artists
- Jonathan Abbou
Institutions
- Éditions Aliénor
- Studio Simonis
Locations
- Montreuil
- Paris
- France
Sources
- artpress —