Valérie Leray

Valérie Leray, born in 1975, lives and works in Orléans (FR) and Berlin (GER). She was graduated in Master in Photography and Multimedia in the Paris 8 University. She is an independent photographer. Her topic is the question of presence/ absence of History in contemporary photography. In 2008, her project “Nomads” was awarded the label of “The European Year for Intercultural Dialog”. It was also granted a contribution by the Delegation of Foreign Affairs and a purchase by the Centre France Region (1% artistique). In 2009, she received a support of the Direction of Cultural Affairs in Region Centre. Her works was exhibited in differents countries: Europäischer Monat der Fotografie (Berlin), Fotoseptiembre (Mexico D.F), Pyngyao International Photography festival, Paris, Berlin, Orléans.

WORKS

Description

Documentary photography raises the question of the representation of Utopia. When it deals with historical sites – what the French historian Pierre Nora calls “the realms of memory” (lieux de mémoire) – photography explores the tension between the traces of History, i.e. its own capacity to become visible where it happened, and its fictional potential. What matters to me is to restore the different times of history in my photographs: the present, that is to say, the visible as well as History’s short or long time. 

I take my photographs on the memory sites themselves. Therefore they aim to restore memory. I never shoot an event when it happens, though important.  But I keep coming back on sites where History took place. 

The memory site becomes the place for a creative gesture: the objects that are traces of History become signs, symbols or allegories embodied in a new fiction. I intend to give a new reality to what remains invisible so as to fill this place with a new life and a new emotion.

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VILLA HEIKE AND OTHER STORIES — Curated by Pierre Granoux & Michael Schäfer - Arwed Messmer, Bram Braam, Christof Zwiener, Jens Lüstraeten, Manfred Pernice, Michael Schäfer, Nina E. Schönefeld, Peter Ruehle, Pierre Granoux, Sonya Schönberger, Sophia Pompéry, Torsten Ruehle, Valérie Leray, Vanessa Henn, Wiebke Loeper
ENDE NEU — Curated by Pierre Granoux - Adib Fricke, Alekos Hofstetter, Alexandra Hopf, Alexine Chanel, Anders Bonnesen, Andreas Burger, Angelica Ruffier-Holmqvist, Anke Völk, Anne Gathmann, Antoanetta Marinov, Astrid Köppe, Barbara Breitenfellner, Barbara Wille, Beck / Huber, Birte Endrejat, Bram Braam, Bruno Nagel, Caro Suerkemper, Caroline Bittermann, Catherine Lorent, Ce Jian, Christian Hans Albert Hoosen, Christine Weber, Cia Rinne, Claudio Wichert, Daniela Gugg, Diana Artus, Diana Sirianni, Emanuel Bernstone, Erik Goengrich, Florian Balze, Francisco Da Mata, Frederik Foert, Gabriel Braun, Gert-Jan Akerboom, Hagen Schümann, Heidi Sill, Henrik Strömberg, Inken Reinert, Ioana Alexe, Irène Hug, Isabel Kerkermeier, Ivan Liovik Ebel, Jean-François Karst, Jennifer Oellerich, Jofroi Amaral, Judith Karcheter, Julie Chovin, Julien Grenier, Jürgen Grewe, Katharina Kritzler, Kathrin Köster, Klaus Killisch, Knut Eckstein, Lukas Troberg, Luzia Simons, Manuel Salvat, Marc Klee, Marie Von Heyl, Marie-Luise Rief, Marieke Van Diemen, Marta Djourina, Marte Kiessling, Martin Fengel, Maurice Doherty, Menno Aden, Michael Bause, Michael Laurent, Michaela Zimmer, Moritz Frei, Nadine Fecht, Nicolas Manenti, Nuria Fuster, Oliver van den Berg, Ornella Fieres, Paula G. Vidal, Pedro Boese, Peter Freitag, Pierre Granoux, Pierre-Etienne Morelle, Pietro Sanguineti, Regine Kolle, Reinhard Doubrawa, Ricarda Mieth, Roland Fuhrmann, Roland Moreau, Sabine Bokelberg, Sador Weinsčlucker, Sara-Lena Maierhofer, Satoru Tamura, Sibylle Jazra, Sinta Werner, Sophia Pompéry, Stefan Römer, Stella Geppert, Stephan Brenn, Sven Stuckenschmidt, Sybille Neumeyer, Thomas Prochnow, Ties Ten Bosch, Ursula Döbereiner, Ute Lindner, Valérie Leray, Vanessa Henn, Veit Stratmann, Witte Wartena, Wolfgang Capellari
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