Robert Charlotte
at Marsoui
EXHIBITION
Par-delà la brume (Beyond the Mist)
Robert Charlotte, Fort-de-France, Martinique | robertcharlotte.wixsite.com/robertcharlotte00
In the misty, austere recesses of the north shore of the Gaspé Peninsula, between Mont Saint-Pierre and Marsoui, the landscape unfolds in shades of grey, draping everything in a mysterious veil. The steep cliffs stand like sentinels, challenging the grey sky and the ocean, where only the waves whisper their eternal story.
In this wild, inhospitable setting, the mist seems to weave a veil between earth and sky, creating an atmosphere at once oppressive and bewitching. In this untamed example of nature, the village of Marsoui nestles at the heart of the Gaspé. The mist lifts to reveal hidden treasures. The inhabitants, resilient in the face of the harsh climate, wear strength and determination on their faces.
Blending landscapes and portraits, the narrative relates a story of gripping contrast, between the severity of nature and human resilience, capturing both the stark beauty and the vibrant vitality of a place where life is shaped by the elements, revealing the strength and the determination of a community to prosper despite the challenges. With a head-on look, I’m attempting to capture the mystical essence of this place, where every encounter, every face tells a unique story frozen in time, and invites us to explore further than appearances. “Beyond the Mist” is a visual journey that celebrates the ethereal beauty of Marsoui’s profound soul.
EXHIBITION AT RENCONTRES
Par-delà la brume (Beyond the Mist)
Born in 1966 in Martinique, where he grew up and now lives, Robert Charlotte took an early interest in the family album, which proved to be both a pleasure and a trigger for him. It was on a family trip that he took his first pictures, armed with an Instamatic camera. From 1986 to 1989 he lived in Paris and attended photography school. He would end up spending 10 years there, and worked in an industrial photo studio. He learned about the challenges of reporting and illustration, from commission to artistic proposal, from teamwork to the solitude of the moment when the shutter is released.
Back in Martinique he developed an interest in painting. He began to meet, rub shoulders with and photograph painters in their studios. He collaborated on several publications. This would influence and determine the photographic research he conducts and presents, using either an abstract or figurative approach, while striving to explore a form of pictorial expression. Robert Charlotte’s photography is socially oriented, in the form of photo portraits. He takes a systematic look at the behaviors, attitudes and expressions of social groups.