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Celine Clanet
Des barrages et des hommes en Savoie

4 September 2014 calamita

“It is not until a building has assumed this character, till it has been entrusted with the fame, and hallowed by the deeds of men (…) that its existence can be gifted with language and life.” 
John Ruskin, The Seven Lamps of Architecture, 1849

– – – 

[“Dam and Man in Savoy”]
During one year, at the request of the FONDATION FACIM, and in close collaboration with Electricité De France, I walked the roads and the vast network of hydropower in the Beaufortain area, Savoy (French Alps).I climbed a few hills, explored every corner of the power plants, scrutinized every detail of the machines, and went through forbidden doors. From a Pelton turbine detail, to a large vision of a dam melted in the Alps mountains, I have punctuated these images with portraits of witnesses from the dams’ construction days.

Several times, I happened to find myself alone with these “quiet fortresses”, especially under inclement or snowy weather. During several hours, I walked tirelessly around the high pastures, or along the water reservoirs, the vault, looking for the best picture possible. Alone with these monumental constructions for miles around, I established a special relationship with them, almost intimate. In our mutual silence, I absorbed their impressive and reassuring presence, their high mountain fortified castles looking. And those great “shelters”, mine for a few hours, then kindly revealed to me some of their secrets.

BIO 
Céline Clanet (1977) was born and raised in the French Alps. A graduate from the Ecole Nationale Supérieure de la Photographie of Arles (France), she has been working since 2005 on the European Arctic continental territory – known as «Lapland» – and Sámi people. Her «Máze» photographic series was awarded with several prizes in Europoe and USA, including the Critical Mass Book Award (USA). Published and exhibited in Europe and abroad, her photographic work is part of the Société Française de Photographie (France), the Archives Départementales de Savoie (France), the Portland Art Museum (USA) collections, as well as several private collections. Céline Clanet published four books: “Les Chapieux, Géographie d’un secret”, Actes Sud, France, 2014, «Des Barrages et de Hommes en Savoie» (Actes Sud, France, 2011), «Máze» (Photolucida, USA, 2010) and «Un Mince Vernis de Réalité» (Filigranes, France, 2005). She works and lives in Paris.

www.celineclanet.com

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