Pioneer. Monique Jacot redefine
our look at our society.
For a few months, and like every year, Photo Elysée is presenting in the UBS Hall of St-François in Lausanne a selection of their collection. This new exhibition, which is on view until the month of November, is defining the practice of Monique Jacot, a Swiss photographer.
Born between the two world wars in Neuchâtel, the artist will gradually come closer and closer to photography, before becoming a photographer after her studies at the School of Arts and Crafts in Vevey from 1953 to 1956. During those time she was referred as the outsider by the teacher, who wanted her to stay in class and not going outside, photographing the life who surrounded her.
The first section of the exhibition, curated by Hannah Pröbsting (curator of Photo Elysée) is dedicated to experimentations. First, to the photographs of early performances to her latest works, both of them exclusively made in Switzerland. The show continues to unfold with the importance of reflection shown in her work.
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While making photographs of reflections, she also reflects on her own practice and the new technique that is currently being developed. In the 70s, she discovers the polaroid. She played with this format, she transfers the photos, she opens the films, she plays with the negative, she triples or double the figures of her picture, she's an outsider.
Beside being a scientist of photographs, she continues her photojournalist commission, when she showcases a series of women working in the farm (already showcase in the exhibition Femmes de la terre in 1989, presented in the Musée de l'Élysée). In those pictures, the importance of juxtaposition between the women, the animals and the link between the softness of the scenes and the hard environment is present.
Later on, she made a series of photojournalist in 30 Swiss factories. During the process of obtaining the authorisation, she needed not to speak to any workesr, any women, to anonymise the photograph, but her photos are still strong, full of mind blowing aspect around gender equality, security, secrecy of the industry and the process, etc.
The last part of the show is dedicated to the essence and definition of her practice. Experimentation, which is defined as a "scientific method requiring the systematic use of experience in order to verify the hypotheses put forward and to acquire positive knowledge in the experimental sciences".
With this focus exhibitions, comprising of 20-30 photographs from the more then 800 of the collection, the choice was quite complex... But due to archival research and discussions with the artist, Hannah Pröbsting has made a great use of the small space of the UBS Hall.
Informations about the exhibition
Place: UBS Halle, Place St-François 16, Lausanne
Date: 28.9.2022 – 11.11.2022
Curators: Hannah Pröbsting
Ticket: Free
Informations about Photo Elysée
Plateforme 10
Place de la Gare 17
1003 Lausanne
Suisse
Phone: + 41 21 31 84 400