Forced to exchange the frantic life of the city for the solitude of the countryside, his life entered a sudden hiatus. This abrupt transition filled the void left by urban hustle with the simplicity of his rural surroundings, transforming his perception and creative process.

During this unexpected pause, he found solace in the natural beauty around him, particularly in the flowers that adorned the fields. Fascinated by their ephemeral beauty, he embarked on a quest to capture and preserve their essence. This quest led him to discover the lumen print, a light printing technique that captures the silhouette of plants by placing them in direct contact with photosensitive paper.

Intrigued and inspired, the artist dedicated a significant part of the eleven months he spent in the countryside to experimenting with this technique. He meticulously worked to freeze the plants in time, often adding bodies or other elements to complement the visual metaphor. Each print became a delicate interaction of light and shadow, capturing not only the physical form of the plants but also the essence of his introspective journey.

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This series, born from his time in the countryside, goes beyond being a mere collection of prints; it is a reflection of a period of profound transformation and adaptation. The works testify to a phase in which the artist, being out of his usual element, found a new form of expression. By intertwining natural elements with personal symbolism, he created a body of work that explores the beauty of stillness and the art of capturing fleeting moments.

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"Pause, and the Birth of Lumen Prints" invites us to reflect on how life’s interruptions can lead to unexpected discoveries. In the tranquility of the countryside, far from the chaos of the city, Alex Rispal found a new medium of expression and a deeper connection with the natural world. Through lumen prints, he immortalized the transient, turning a period of isolation into a journey of connection with plants and the metaphors they leave behind.

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As viewers traverse this exhibition, they witness how pause and introspection can give rise to an intimate dialogue between humans and nature, revealing the hidden beauty in moments of stillness and the magic of the ephemeral.

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Curatorial text by Mark Dean