Deborah Turbeville: Photocollage | Huis Marseille
Deborah Turbeville from the series Comme des Garçons, Passage Vivienne, 1980s © Deborah Turbeville / MUUS Collection
Written by Lauren Levesque
Huis Marseille is proud to present a significant event for gallery visitors. From March onwards, the gallery will host Deborah Turbeville's first substantial retrospective, a momentous occasion celebrating her work's evolution and profound impact. The exhibition will showcase various works that have yet to be viewed and rare works from the artist. In addition, the exhibition will feature crucial previous series, including Bathhouse (1975), École des Beaux-Arts (1977), Unseen Versailles (1982), and Studio St. Petersburg (1995-96). Turbeville's ability to isolate and capture wondrous images that allow the viewer to glimpse her unique perspective is genuinely inspiring. Despite not considering herself a fashion photographer, Turbeville’s connection to the fashion industry is evident throughout her photographs. Her work is bold, identifiable, and captures moments in time. Photocollage will be displayed from 16th March 2024 till 16th June 2024.
In the image above, the photograph exudes an immediate and tangible sense of sensuality. The viewer is not just a spectator, but a participant, transported to the iconic 80s era, surrounded by individuals exuding high fashion. The women in the photograph feel intimate, close, as if in the safety of a women's dressing room. Turbeville's keen eye captures the women's lanky limbs and their effortless and chic absorption of the space, creating an immersive experience that will leave the viewer intrigued and wanting more.
Deborah Turbeville Untitled, from the series Comme des Garçons, Passage Vivienne, Paris, France, Nov 1980 © Deborah Turbeville / MUUS Collection
‘Untitled, from the series Comme des Garçons, Passage Vivienne’ feels psychologically nightmarish. The individualistic pieces create a sense of unease as the viewer's eye bounces from image to image, gauging and taking in each moment that is seen. Turbeville can show her ability to manipulate light and shadows and how playing the two against and with each other permits images with a sense of hollowness. The sepia-drowned photographs also add a wonderland glaze to the pictures and help the viewer feel isolated and wary.
Deborah Turbeville Comme des Garçons, Escalier dans Passage Vivienne, from the series Comme des Garçons, 1980 © Deborah Turbeville / MUUS Collection
At first, the above image feels traditional to the viewer. The old-fashioned staircase, naked walls, and the muted, reserved clothing of the figure give the impression of melancholy and stillness. It is upon closer observation that the photograph comes to life. Turbeville has been able to capture raw moments of an individual's life. The simple task of stepping upon a staircase in a mundane way emphasizes what people never thought to observe or capture. The mysterious woman that Turbeville displays allows the reader to wonder what could be happening inside her mind and if she wanted to be in her current circumstances.
