‘You can feel the emotion’: French photographer Willy Ronis’ images depicting the beauty of everyday life in ‘special’ Hong Kong show
- ‘Capturing Life’ is an exhibition of works by the late humanist photography pioneer Willy Ronis, who was known for his poetic depictions of everyday life
- Its curator, Vanessa Franklin, who was mentored by Ronis, tells the Post ‘why people are still touched’ by the Frenchman’s photos
Industrial is the best way to describe The Loft in Hong Kong’s Wong Chuk Hang neighbourhood.
But step out of the bright yellow doors of a rattling lift and into Boogie Woogie Photography and you are met with an elegant slice of France.
Scattered around the eighth-floor space are pieces of 18th century furniture and decorative art from Kraemer Gallery, the oldest family-owned gallery in Paris. But it is the black-and-white images by French photographer Willy Ronis (1910-2009) that grab the most attention.
Ronis was a pioneer of humanist photography, a French movement that emerged after World War II and focused on the everyday human experience.
Many of his iconic images feature in “Capturing Life: The Photography of Willy Ronis”, on show at Boogie Woogie Photography until October 21, the photos selected from the private collection of Stephane Kovalsky, Ronis’ grandson.
“Seeing these stunning silver gelatin prints that beautifully capture his talent for composition and storytelling is very special,” says Vanessa Franklin, who co-founded the Hong Kong studio in 2016 to promote photography in Asia.
“We met in Paris several times and he would cook me lunch and give me so much advice – you can see the images of me in here,” she says, opening a chunky art book by Taschen showcasing Ronis’ works.
Walking around the studio, Franklin waxes lyrical about the artist who was able to see something magical in the mundane and who had an uncanny ability to capture spontaneous moments of daily life.
What I love about Ronis’ images is they invite us to reflect on the universal themes of love, joy and resilience
No better is this evidenced than in Le Nu Provençal, arguably Ronis’ most famous photograph.
Taken in Gordes, Provence, in the summer of 1949, it shows Ronis’ wife, Marie-Anne Lansiaux – herself an artist – naked and washing her face after a nap.
“There’s so much grace in this photo – it looks like a painting,” says Franklin.
In The Little Parisian (1952) a young boy, baguette under his arm, smile on his face, runs along a street, while another, The Lovers of the Bastille (1957), shows a couple at the top of the Colonne de Juillet looking out over Paris.
“What I love about Ronis’ images is they invite us to reflect on the universal themes of love, joy and resilience,” says Franklin.
Another image shows two small children playing on gigantic barges on the Seine.
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“He was such a generous man and I think his sincerity is reflected in this image,” she says of the photo The Children’s Barge, taken in 1959.
“You can feel the emotion and that’s why people are still touched by it today […] His work is timeless.”
“Capturing Life: The Photography of Willy Ronis”, Boogie Woogie Photography, The Loft, 8/F, E Wah Factory Building, 56-60 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Wong Chuk Hang. To book a private visit, WhatsApp Vanessa Franklin on 5239 3730.
