DOROTHY SHOES

Tell us a little about your background... What inspires your art work ? I'm coming from theatre background. Acting and Staging. I guess you can feel it a lot in my photography work. I'm a picture stager. A story teller.

How would you describe your art works for someone who's never seen them ? Pieces of life. Broken puzzles. Ordinary stories with original eye. Speechless faces. Human being paradoxical beauty. Heart beats. Daily pains. Love disenchantments. Deep breathing. Dreams in hands. Shiny souls… Each one of my picture is a new little tale you open by night when everybody sleeps.

Have you had any formal education or are you self taught ? No formal education at all.. I started working on graphics webdesign for my Theater Company " Même Pas Peur Cie " I've created with Vanessa Ailleaume three years ago, because we didn't have enough money to pay someone to make our visuals… I didn't know how to do it, than I just tried.. After that, people employed me as designer for various projects, and I bought my first camera one year and a half ago because I knew I didn't want to design but to take pictures. To build my own world, to express what I had inside even if I didn't know how to figure out this desire.

Have you got any standard or paragon in the world of art ? If so, which are they ? Roger Ballen. Rodney Smith. ParkeHarrisson. I feel so small when I see their works. But to feel small gives you the energy to grow up.

What is your view on the current art market and how do you see photography within this ? I don't know… I hate to associate art and market. I know it's a part of reality, but I'm not focused at all on profits and how to make money. I mean if an artist becomes popular, and if money comes, well great! I'm not against winning money with art… But if you ask to any artist if money is one of his motivations to create, I'm sure he will laugh.. But maybe I'm too naïve..?

How do the public and the critics perceive your work ? What I hear or read about my work is that I have my own style. What's a big compliment. People notice my imagination and my sensibility. When people talk about my pictures I often hear that's I'm on a line between intensity and violence and tender poetry. But I guess it's the common line of each human being.

What are your favorite types of projects to work on ? I have the chance to work in a creative environment. At the same time, I'm working as an actress, a stager, a puppeteer and as a photographer. I love working by myself on my pictures, to be my own interlocutor in my creative process. But that's why it's also really interesting and nourishing to work with a team on drama projects.

What's the strangest request you've had ? For the moment No really strange request. But well… To ask me to take pictures of babies playing with a blue Ball in the green Garden with red dresses or yellow trousers looks like a strange request when you see my work, don't you think ?

What makes you happy ? Love. To know my heart safe, full and secure. To have time to myself. To meet passionate people and to spend sleepless nights with them talking and sharing. To be surprised. To surprise. To make each day a new beginning, to know I have the power to change my daily roads. To share. To give.

Any final comments ? Bravery. Generosity. Creativity. Are my priorities.

contact   www

front