William Ropp

DARKROOMS IN NORTHERN LIGHT presents the French artist William Ropp - enjoy his work at 7th LANE - Photography from heaven and hell , Lilleakerveien 4B, Oslo.


Opening hours thursday-sunday 12-5 PM.

EARLIER WORK

"EW9" Artist: William Ropp, Technique: Black and white toned silver gelatin print. Size 40*50 (ed 10), 50*60 (ed 12), 100*120 (ed 8) printed by the artist, signed and numbered.

"EW8" Artist: William Ropp, Technique: Black and white toned silver gelatin print. Size 40*50 (ed 10), 50*60 (ed 12), 100*120 (ed 8) printed by the artist, signed and numbered

"EW7" Artist: William Ropp, Technique: Black and white toned silver gelatin print. Size 40*50 (ed 10), 50*60 (ed 12), 100*120 (ed 8) printed by the artist, signed and numbered.

"EW6" Artist: William Ropp, Technique: Black and white toned silver gelatin print. Size 40*50 (ed 10), 50*60 (ed 12), 100*120 (ed 8) printed by the artist, signed and numbered

"EW4" Artist: William Ropp, Technique: Black and white toned silver gelatin print. Size 40*50 (ed 10), 50*60 (ed 12), 100*120 (ed 8) printed by the artist, signed and numbered

"EW3" Artist: William Ropp, Technique: Black and white toned silver gelatin print. Size 40*50 (ed 10), 50*60 (ed 12), 100*120 (ed 8) printed by the artist, signed and numbered.

"EW2" Artist: William Ropp, Technique: Black and white toned silver gelatin print. Size 40*50 (ed 10), 50*60 (ed 12), 100*120 (ed 8) printed by the artist, signed and numbered.

"EW1" Artist: William Ropp, Technique: Black and white toned silver gelatin print. Size 40*50 (ed 10), 50*60 (ed 12), 100*120 (ed 8) printed by the artist, signed and numbered.

"Chess Player" Artist: William Ropp, Technique: Black and white toned silver gelatin print. Size 40*50 (ed 10), 50*60 (ed 12), 100*120 (ed 8) printed by the artist, signed and numbered

ellen-k FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

William Ropp

(lives and works in Nancy, France)

William Ropp is known for the unique style in which he captures the mysterious aspects of human nature. Placing his subjects in absolute darkness during extended exposures, he uses a flashlight to paint a magical effect of illumination and shadow in what he calls ‘The dance of light’. ”My pictures were influenced by me working at the theatre, and I struggled to liberate myself from theatrical expression. This continued until I stopped using actors as models, replacing them with ordinary people I met.” Ropp often works in a studio, using a powerful torch as illumination, forcing him to expose for as long as ten minutes. In the darkness the models have little to focus on, and their stare is redirected towards the viewer. Seemingly coming from a different time, these human beings unify ancient mysteries and timeless questions in their appearances. William Ropps images takes us to different levels of reality and invites the viewer to occupy with the anthropological question of being and non-being. In his portraits of children their facial expression does not fit in the presentation of the ever-cheerfull child. The viewers childhood emotions and memories might be awakened.

Ropp produces his own richly toned, traditional gelatin silver prints. His photographs have been exhibited extensively in museums and galleries around the world, and his work has been published in several books including one devoted to the Children series, as well a twenty-year retrospective, and the recently published “Dreamt memories from Africa” (april 2010)