The Notion of Intimacy
Arnaud Ele stands out not only with his fashion photography but also for his documentary series in Switzerland and Cameroon, and his many video collaborations with artists, singers and dancers from the Swiss art scene. He works on codes and associated representations, as well as identity. While he describes being a photographer as “challenging but exciting”, Arnaud Ele believes that there is always something new to discover.
“Wherever I go, I focus on the notion of intimacy. Wondering about the ways of inhabiting the territories and their uses, as well as the way in which nature and human occupation intertwine, I have always endeavored to push back the limits of the documentary. I aim to reveal, under the innocuous appearance of my scenes, hidden stories. I defend the view of the human eye as a method of recording and intimacy as a mode of description. My photographic work is the continuity of my training as a filmmaker: the intuitive scenario of the image, the exploration of new narrative forms representing the moment with veracity.”
Arnaud Ele
This period represents a process of pushing his “diversity approach and what it means to be inclusive” further for Arnaud Ele, who has been living in Berlin for 6 years and discovering the queer scene. “Berlin as a city is intense. Every day is a new encounter. Berlin is dark and I do love to reveal its beauty. I do feel home here, even if often I don’t. This paradox pushes me to be alive and explore every minute of my time as a Berliner”. “Making people dream” is the greatest form of motivation for Arnaud, who produces works on different cultures, focusing on the communities around him.
How are you feeling these days?
Dream or reality?
Any advice for creatives?
Being overwhelmed is like;
Define being original.
What does hope mean to you?
How was 2022 so far?
Your biggest dream?
In Conversation with Duygu Bengi
FROM BASED ISTANBUL NO41: HOPE ISSUE