Émilie Delugeau, Crafting Visual Poetry Through the Lens
Photo de couverture: “Cabaret”, Centre d´Art Photographique Villa Pérochon, Niort (F), 2022
In this exclusive interview, Tata Christiane explores the artistic journey of Émilie Delugeau, a French photographer whose evocative work bridges the boundaries of document and fiction. Emilie has been living and working in Berlin since 2005. A graduate of the prestigious École Nationale Supérieure de la Photographie in Arles, she further honed her craft with a Post-Diploma at the Ostkreuz Schule für Fotografie in Berlin under the guidance of Ute Mahler and Robert Lyons.
Furu, 2014
Her photography, described as visual poetry, has earned her significant recognition. In 2024, she was awarded the First Prize in the BGW Foto Competition.”Mensch Arbeit Zukunft”. Émilie’s work has been showcased in numerous group exhibitions, including at the MAAC Anthropology and Contemporary Art Museum in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Galerie Joseph le Palais in Paris, AFF Galerie in Berlin and Fotografie Forum in Frankfurt.
Her solo exhibitions, such as at the Centre d´Art Photographique – Villa Pérochon, Institut Français Berlin during the EMOP European Month of Photography and the Foto Forum Bolzano in South Tyrol, further highlight her artistic depth and versatility.
Furu, 2014
In this conversation, Émilie shares her insights into her intuitive creative process, her relationship with color and composition, and the collaborative role of fashion in her portraits. She also reflects on how Tata Christiane’s fantastical designs introduced her to the Berlin underground scene, enriching her visual storytelling. This interview offers an intimate glimpse into the philosophy and inspirations behind Émilie Delugeau’s compelling photographic journey.
Furu, 2014
Can you tell me a bit about your background and introduce yourself?
Émilie Delugeau : I come from the west coast of France. I studied photography in Arles and have lived in Berlin since 2005. I grew up in a rural society. At first I was very much into poetry and literature. My parents were not connected to any art and cultural life, but we had a great public library in my hometown. My first encounter there with photography was the intelligent and witty work of Sophie Calle. It felt so refreshing, the freedom and the spirituality of it.
Ela, 2013
Can you describe the way you work?
Émilie Delugeau : Marguerite Duras once said this beautiful thing about work, in her perspective: “To write is to try to know what we would write if we wrote”.
I work in a very intuitive way, reacting to my immediate surroundings and looking for my own way between the fields of document and fiction. Others may call it visual poetry.
Photography is for me just this wonderful tool of encounter with both the inside and the outside world. But it has nothing to do with reality, really…
Ela and Lulu, 2014
What role does colors play in your photos?
Émilie Delugeau : I would say, color is my main form of expression, together with composition. I do work with a very reduced palette of colors. Later on, going back to my hometown for an exhibition (Villa Pérochon) I realized: it is the colors of my home landscape.
Nina, 2013
What role does clothing play in your photos (cabaret series)?
Émilie Delugeau : People express their identity through fashion. When doing portraits, I use clothing as a tool to shift identities in a playful manner. The shooting is really like a live performance taking place, a collaborative performance between the model and myself.
Lulu, 2013
Have you considered fashion photography?
Émilie Delugeau : Sure. It’s always very rewarding putting your practice to the service of other artists.
Til, 2014
What part did Tata Christiane’s clothes and costumes play in some of your photos?
Émilie Delugeau : Your clothes were a decisive encounter in my work. It brought fantasy and baroque into my pictures, and opened me up to the Berlin underground scene. So I’m very thankful for that.
Do you have anything to add?
Émilie Delugeau : Yes. I really enjoy having some of your pieces in my closet. They re-appear from time to time in some new work (like here for the music band Malina Malina).
Malina Malina, 2024
