THE FRENCH PHOTOGRAPHER'S DEBUT EXHIBITION IN ASIA ...

THE FRENCH PHOTOGRAPHER’S DEBUT EXHIBITION IN ASIA
Hong Kong – 19 October, 2011 – Opera Gallery pays tribute to the visual imagination of
photographer Gérard Rancinan, showcasing his latest series of photography in Hong Kong,
the first Asian stop of his world tour.
Curated by Gilles Dyan, Chairman of the Opera Gallery Group and Shirley Yablonsky,
Director of Opera Gallery Hong Kong, the exhibition will be on display at Opera Gallery Hong
Kong from November 11 to December 1, 2011.
Rancinan’s debut exhibition in Hong Kong and Asia will feature a selection photographs from
his trilogy series – Metamorphoses, Hypotheses and Wonderful World – as well as some
world famous Portraits.
The exhibition has already been showcased at Opera Gallery in Geneva, Paris and London,
and will also go to Singapore and Seoul in early 2012. Rancinan’s trilogy series will make its
final stop in Italy where it will be exhibited in its entirety for the first time in the world at the very
prestigious museum Triennale di Milano in May 2012 with "Trilogy of the Moderns".
Metamorphoses, a series of larger-than-life photos, is the artist’s testimonial of the mutations
shaking our world today. Inspired by artistic masterpieces, Rancinan revisits mankind’s most
ancient and significant interrogations, and realizes how important these issues remain today.
With his unique and vivid genius, Rancinan presents a subjective and yet strongly symbolic
report on the planet’s most profound questions against a backdrop of accelerated
globalisation: ecology, migration, emancipation of the oppressed, freedom and basic human
rights, starvation and fast-food.
Other series on display include Hypotheses and the brand new Wonderful world that depict
the world as a “big amusement park”. The exhibition will also feature some of Rancinan’s
most exquisite Portraits of famous artists. From Yan Pei Ming to Paul McCarthy, Rancinan
plunged head-first into the creative universe of each of these talented artists, and the result is

a veritable communion of breath-taking “portrait-performances” that reveal parts of each
person’s soul as well as their force and their humanity.
Speaking about his work, Rancinan comments “I am a witness of the metamorphoses of our
humanity. My work is to exhibit some wonderful and powerful photographs but also to show to
the viewers how society is today and to be a witness of my contemporaries using the tradition
of classic art.’’
“Hong Kong is a new important hub for art and artists, between two different worlds, with a mix
of people and culture. For me it's an important stop in my career as Hong Kong is the perfect
example of urban living. Moreover, Opera Gallery is a very dynamic gallery and represents the
ideal gallery to exhibit my work today in a city like Hong Kong,’’ he continued.
French born Gérard Rancinan has travelled the globe photographing events of historical
importance and delivering the startling images through an ever-evolving aesthetic prism.
Seen in some of the most prestigious galleries around the world, the internationally renowned
artist is constantly breaking down barriers, foremost as an investigator deconstructing the
great sagas of contemporary life, and as a portraitist.
The last time Rancinan was in Hong Kong was during the handover where he was
commissioned by The Sunday Times Magazine to capture this historical period. He captured
Chris Patten along side Stanley Ho, and other prominent Hong Kong identities.
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Notes
High res-images can be downloaded from the following FTP site at ftp.impactasia.sys.hk;
Login: opera
Password: opera93
Contact
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impactasia
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About Gérard Rancinan
Born in the Bordeaux region, Gérard Rancinan travels the globe, bearing first hand witness to
events of historical importance. Natural catastrophes, civil and ethnic wars, and urban riots... he
comes face to face with the complexity of the human condition and the random events by which it
is fashioned. His imperious need for self- expression leads him to focus on the world’s most
important issues; he delivers startling images filtered through an ever-evolving aesthetic prism.
Constantly breaking down barriers, he is, by turn, an investigator deconstructing the great sagas of
contemporary life, and a portraitist. His photographs of athletes, artists, ecclesiastics and
politicians have become iconic. His images have earned him a number of prizes, including four
prestigious World Press Awards. Following his domain of predilection, in the “Trilogy of the
Moderns” he becomes the wakeful observer of his contemporaries.
Internationally renowned, Gérard Rancinan’s work is exhibited in the world’s most prestigious
galleries and museums and features in the important contemporary art collections. During a recent
Étude Millon auction at Drouot (2008), Gérard Rancinan became one of the highest ranked
photographers in France. Gérard Rancinan is a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres.
About Opera Gallery
Founded in Paris in 1994 and now internationally established with galleries in Paris, London,
Geneva, Monaco, New York, Miami, Singapore, Hong Kong, Beijing, Seoul and Dubai, Opera
Gallery is one of the rare dealers in modern and contemporary American, European and Asian art
with museums and private clients worldwide.
Offering artworks of exceedingly high quality, the gallery has a reputation for excellence, integrity
and discretion that it continues to earn by providing a high level of service to understandably
demanding clients.
Since its creation, Opera Gallery Group has always strived to offer its international collectors
unique access to a diversity of multicultural artists. Whilst most galleries focus primarily upon artist
representation and promotion, Opera Gallery is collector oriented. This means the gallery will
assess quality and authenticity, evaluate, exhibit, care for, buy and sell art principally for the
benefit of the collector.
The gallery has presented museum-quality exhibitions of Chagall, Picasso, Dali and Botero
throughout its international locations.
Through its international expansion, Opera Gallery will soon open 2 new offices in Beijing
(December 2011) and Taipei (2012).
www.operagallery.com
Opera Gallery Hong Kong
2-8 Wellington Street, G2 Floor, M88, Central, Hong Kong
T: +852 2810 1208