Photographer Barbara Luisi astounds in Water and Dreams

Montauk, Nuit Sur La Mer ©2012 by Barbara Luisi

This blog doesn't hide the fact that it is a fan of Barbara Luisi's work. Her photos are strong and intensely personal.

In the Jumieges Abbey in France an important exhibition called l'Eau et les Rêves (Water and Dreams) is underway, and includes photography by distinguished artists such as the Frenchman Alain Fleischer and American street photographer Joel Meyerowitz. Luisi, who is largely unknown in France, has been included in this illustrious lineup.

Curator Jean-Luc Monterrosso says,

Barbara is one of these artists whose work immediately captured my attention. The aspect of her approach is very unique.

Luisi's work echoes the very first series of photographs, presented within the exhibition Eblouissants reflets at the Museum of Fine-Arts of Rouen, which put together Impressionist paintings with photography of the period. Over a century later, this ocean view by Luisi seems to be closely related to those captured in Normandy, Mediterrannée and Brittany by Gustave Le Gray between 1856 and 1858.

To achieve that kind of result that Luisi has obtained, the photographer of the 19^th century experimented with a  technique known as des ciels rapportés (bringing back the skies) which made it possible to stretch the limits of film by producing a double exposure print. Two negatives were then necessary, one for the landscape and one the sky.

Luisi's magical seascape can be viewed until 31 October.

Jumieges Abbey, France / Exhibition “Water and Dreams” Other images from the exhibition can be seen here.
Hours: 09.30 – 18:30, 27 April to 15 September 15 – 09.00 to 13.00 and 14.30 to 17.30 from 16 September to 31 October 2013

Gramilano( Editor )

Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano') about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.

His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia' column for Dancing Times magazine.