Far from the Eyes, Close to the Heart
A Photograph by Jean-Yves Gauze
What we see in the image is a hint of what was once there – a person sitting, looking onwards, likely with an arm on a desk. We do not engage the blurred scene with any notion of precision. We can estimate that the image has been altered from an original. But what does it indicate besides its opacity? Perhaps it is best to see it for what it is, an abstract memory without a plot.
— Emmanuel Iduma
“My approach to photography is deeply conceptual.”
This photograph comes from a family album passed down by my grandmother, portraying my late mother, who passed away when I was just three months old. Instead of taking a new photo, I reinterpreted this one by scanning and digitally blurring it. This blurring symbolizes the duality of her physical absence and her enduring emotional presence in my heart. Through this process, I explore the complexities of memory and grief within my series, Far from the Eyes, Close to the Heart.
This photograph serves as an emotional keepsake, preserving my mother's memory in a way that honors her without objectification.
My approach to photography is deeply conceptual. I use the medium to explore complex ideas and question conventional perspectives. I'm particularly interested in how digital technologies have transformed the way we create, consume, and understand images, offering unprecedented creative freedom and redefining the boundaries of photography.
— Jean-Yves Gauze
About Jean-Yves Gauze
Jean-Yves Gauze (b.1997, Côte d’Ivoire) is an Ivorian-Rwandan conceptual artist and photographer based in Abidjan. He began his artistic journey with photography and further developed his skills through the Africa Foto Fair workshops curated by renowned photographer Aida Muluneh. Through a conceptual and critical approach, Gauze’s work explores the dynamic interplay of digital technologies, visual culture, and memory in shaping our relationship with images. His practice involves recontextualizing the images he finds or creates to develop new perspectives that question the conventions of contemporary visual culture. See more of his work on Instagram and on his blog.
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The second edition of the Tender Photo Editorial Fellowship is now open for applications to writers based in an African country. Spread the word or apply!
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TENDER PHOTO is a digital platform of African photography, founded by Emmanuel Iduma. Our aim is to engage with life on the African continent through photography. We publish narratives about the people, places, and events pictured in photographs, contributing to nuanced and layered perceptions.
Every Wednesday we feature a photograph, a short caption about it, and a statement from the photographer. In the past, we have published commentaries or photo-essays in response to photographs previously featured on the newsletter, including CORRESPONDENCES, CONCORDANCE, KINDRED, INDEX, and AFFINITIES.
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Lovely to see Jean-Yves work!