déliquescence
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1. Didactic
Property of certain bodies of liquefying by absorbing moisture from the air.2. Figuratively
Complete decay; loss of strength and cohesion.
Déliquescence: the series
I’d like to take you with me on a journey to a faraway destination, that of memories. To the traces that man has left over time in places that he has abandoned for good. Let yourself be carried away by this story, our story.
Nature inexorably reclaims its rights and gradually destroys what man has built with his own hands. The outcome is a foregone conclusion.
But while I wait for everything to disappear, I’m collecting photos to bear witness to this past life. They alone will remain and in a way constitute the memory of a bygone era.
My quest has taken me to some unlikely places, which I wanted to show you in this series of photographs.
Follow in my footsteps in civil or religious buildings that have been damaged by time and that mankind prefers to abandon in favour of modernity and consumerism.
I enter these places in silence and leave without a trace. Only the memories remain imprisoned forever in the memory card of my camera and…. Through the images that I leave you to discover.
Blade Runner
The incessant racket in this coal-fired power station has long since ceased. Only the sound of our footsteps breaks the silence. Here we are in the bowels of the steel monster.
Tropical greenhouse
This elegant, art-deco inspired greenhouse lies dormant at the end of an abandoned botanical garden. It has become an ideal setting for this plant, which has found here an ideal place to flourish in peace and quiet.
My investigations in this luxuriant and very dense nature proved to be perilous. But what a reward when I was able to photograph this architectural treasure from a bygone era, with its delicate aesthetics.
Like a Mikado
Part of the ceiling is lying on the floor, and that’s only the beginning. This richly decorated church will not long withstand the weight of time and lack of maintenance. There is often a feeling of solemnity when you enter such a place. The silence is imposing. The floor looks like a huge ‘mikado’ that you have to step over to position your camera correctly.
I’m particularly fond of this kind of site, where decrepitude sits harmoniously alongside delicate, well-crafted architecture.
This ‘paradox’ emanates a very special charm that I hope to share with you through this image.
The new master of the house
This immense villa, deserted for many years, has lost its splendour. Its magnificence has been stolen by this majestic tree in search of light. It is now, indisputably, the sole master of the premises.
As soon as I entered this ruined site, I was immediately struck by the power and beauty of this tree, which nobly occupied the entire space. It was an obvious choice.
I instinctively chose this angle of view to capture the power of nature.
The thermal greenhouse
Located in a former spa centre, this magnificent greenhouse is gradually being invaded by lush vegetation, to the point where it disappears from view as passers-by walk along a nearby path. A real treasure lies hidden.
The Energia rocket
Without doubt my best exploration. After spending a whole day in the MZK hangar with the two abandoned shuttles, we infiltrated this huge hangar at night, where this rocket has been sleeping since the early 90s. A rocket specially designed to put Russian shuttles into orbit. But this titanic and costly project could not withstand the perestroika and glasnost wanted by Mikhail Gorbachev. The doors of the huge hangar were to close forever.
The blue theatre
From the outside, there’s nothing to suggest that this building hides a theatre. Perhaps even some of the village’s population, too young to have experienced a working theatre, have no idea what lies behind these walls.
The synagogue
Located right in the town centre, this synagogue is one of the oldest in the country. Despite its advanced state of disrepair, it is a listed building and restoration work began just a few months after my visit.
The secret theatre
Despite appearances, this theatre has been abandoned for a very long time. It is located in a building that is still in use, which explains its perfect state of preservation.
The abandoned prison
Giving way to a new, more modern prison next door, this former prison is gradually falling into disrepair. The thick layers of lead paint are gradually peeling off, adding to its gloomy appearance. Silence reigns supreme…
The Paramount Theatre
Now obsolete, this magnificent theatre in the heart of the city closed its doors many years ago. With no maintenance whatsoever, water began to seep in, and the deterioration of the building increased with each passing year. What little remains of the roof will soon collapse, wiping out this artistic past.
The diner
It’s a real miracle that this diner has remained in this state. Although it’s on the roadside, it’s hidden from view by the trees that have grown up around it. With a little imagination, you can imagine how busy it must have been at mealtimes.
Desoto Firedom 1953
It’s been ages since this beautiful American has smelled asphalt. She must have looked great when she hit the open road. After pampering her, her owner gave her up and left her at the bottom of his garden. Little by little, nature engulfed it.
A self-taught photographer for over fifteen years now, it was when I discovered the exploration of abandoned places (URBEX) that my passion for photography fully revealed itself.
I was immediately drawn to the atmosphere created by these places, empty of any activity but still so imbued with the history of the people who brought them to life.
During my wanderings, I wanted to ‘capture’ these places through my photos, places charged with impalpable emotions, like a testimony to times gone by.
I soon felt the need to travel the world in search of new places and new atmospheres.
I love silently entering these sites steeped in history and letting myself be imbued with their quintessence. Through my images, I try to tell their story and share it with others.
I play with light and shadow to faithfully convey the atmosphere of these deserted and somewhat mysterious places.
I also use perspective to make it easier for the viewer to enter the scene I have photographed. I want each of my photos to tell a story.
Sooner or later these buildings will disappear. Nature will have swallowed them up or man will have destroyed them to rebuild new ones. Isn’t it said that ‘life is an eternal beginning’?
Then only the photos will remain, forever the memory of a forgotten era.