Quentin
Bertoux

Quentin Bertoux

biography

French photographer born in 1957, based in the Paris region (France)

Quentin Bertoux took his first photographs at the dawn of the 80s, proposing a creative and singular style of writing that earned him a grant from the Ministry of Culture and a « Moins Trente » award from the Centre National de la Photographie. Sensitive to the narrative of the image, Quentin Bertoux proposes, as a mischievous semiologist, small tales which are sometimes surreal, often playful, and which make sense just as visual haikus.

Through stagings or compositions, he plays with conventions, diverts the function of everyday elements, takes one thing then another to create a third object, and illuminates the scene from a new – extra-ordinary – perspective. In the light of his compositions, still lives are metamorphosed into “living lives”, bodies into protagonists, silence into the promise of a story, the still image into potential movement.

As an illustrating photographer for more than thirty years, Quentin Bertoux defines himself as an « enlighter – illuminator” and collaborates regularly with the press for which he produces photographic “little rebus” or “games of things”. As an image choreographer, he also connects with the world of creation, making posters and illustrations for theaters, dance companies, fashion houses, architecture firms, actors of the world of contemporary art and arts and craft

Series

Comité Colbert, 2015

For more than thirty years, this photographer has played with words to compose witty and fantastical images.

The flood according to me, 2013

Raining things, plastic raining, various things raining... Shovels, wheels, boards, books, saws, buckets...

Story of the little girl who, 2010

The stories of the little girl are tales whose texts have faded away, vanished: only the photographs remain visible...

Food for thoughts, 2009

Quentin Bertoux plays with food, and nobody seems to have a problem with that...

Ludwig, 2009

Ludwig is a pink flamingo, he likes to take pictures, like myself. We took walks together around Montpellier with the idea of forging coloured links between the Théâtre des Treize Vents and its surroundings...

Theme figures, 2009

Quentin Bertoux gives us a series of portraits playing as much on the content as on the form.

The red string, 2009

This series of images was created to be used as posters for the Théâtre des Treize Vents' programming.

Thinking Heads, 2006

This work reflects the collective assignments from Le Monde in its psychology section.

Duos, 2000

In the soft light of his compositions, Quentin Bertoux metaphorically illustrates life scenes, which, despite their immobility, are transformed into a living narrative.

Comité Colbert, 2015

For more than thirty years, this photographer has played with words to compose witty and fantastical images.

The flood according to me, 2013

Raining things, plastic raining, various things raining... Shovels, wheels, boards, books, saws, buckets...

Story of the little girl who, 2010

The stories of the little girl are tales whose texts have faded away, vanished: only the photographs remain visible...

Food for thoughts, 2009

Quentin Bertoux plays with food, and nobody seems to have a problem with that...

Ludwig, 2009

Ludwig is a pink flamingo, he likes to take pictures, like myself. We took walks together around Montpellier with the idea of forging coloured links between the Théâtre des Treize Vents and its surroundings...

Theme figures, 2009

Quentin Bertoux gives us a series of portraits playing as much on the content as on the form.

The red string, 2009

This series of images was created to be used as posters for the Théâtre des Treize Vents' programming.

Thinking Heads, 2006

This work reflects the collective assignments from Le Monde in its psychology section.

Duos, 2000

In the soft light of his compositions, Quentin Bertoux metaphorically illustrates life scenes, which, despite their immobility, are transformed into a living narrative.

Comité Colbert, 2015

For more than thirty years, this photographer has played with words to compose witty and fantastical images.

The flood according to me, 2013

Raining things, plastic raining, various things raining... Shovels, wheels, boards, books, saws, buckets...

Story of the little girl who, 2010

The stories of the little girl are tales whose texts have faded away, vanished: only the photographs remain visible...

Food for thoughts, 2009

Quentin Bertoux plays with food, and nobody seems to have a problem with that...

Ludwig, 2009

Ludwig is a pink flamingo, he likes to take pictures, like myself. We took walks together around Montpellier with the idea of forging coloured links between the Théâtre des Treize Vents and its surroundings...

Theme figures, 2009

Quentin Bertoux gives us a series of portraits playing as much on the content as on the form.

The red string, 2009

This series of images was created to be used as posters for the Théâtre des Treize Vents' programming.

Thinking Heads, 2006

This work reflects the collective assignments from Le Monde in its psychology section.

Duos, 2000

In the soft light of his compositions, Quentin Bertoux metaphorically illustrates life scenes, which, despite their immobility, are transformed into a living narrative.

film

Vacuum & Water, 2001

Film made on a proposal by Pascale Houbin on the occasion of the creation of Mito.

Directed by Quentin Bertoux
With: Pascale Houbin & Georges Appaix
Music: Michel Musseau
Production: Company No Name
Duration: 7 min 30 sec.

© Compagnie Non de Nom & Quentin Bertoux, 2001

Books

Quelque chose de merveilleux et d'effrayant

Edition Thierry Magnier - 2012

Histoire de la petite fille Qui

Arthaud – Collection Vieux Fonds Art - 2010

Vues de l'esprit

Seuil - 2006

Savoir-faire et secrets des métiers d'art

Aubanel - 2001

Quelque chose de merveilleux et d'effrayant

Edition Thierry Magnier - 2012

Histoire de la petite fille Qui

Arthaud – Collection Vieux Fonds Art - 2010

Vues de l'esprit

Seuil - 2006

Savoir-faire et secrets des métiers d'art

Aubanel - 2001

Quelque chose de merveilleux et d'effrayant

Edition Thierry Magnier - 2012

Histoire de la petite fille Qui

Arthaud – Collection Vieux Fonds Art - 2010

Vues de l'esprit

Seuil - 2006

Savoir-faire et secrets des métiers d'art

Aubanel - 2001