Joël Denot at Modesti Perdriolle: Writing with Light

From January 23 to March 8, 2025, Modesti Perdriolle Gallery presents “Plaques Sensibles”, an exhibition by Joël Denot. His work revisits the roots of photography, using light as both subject and medium. Through long exposures and a pinhole camera, Denot captures time itself, transforming fleeting moments into deep, textured images.

 


Denot’s approach is purely analog. No digital manipulation, no post-production edits—only light, time, and precision. He meticulously calculates exposure times based on daily light readings, sometimes stretching the process over hours. His technique recalls the earliest days of photography, when figures like Nicéphore Niépce and Gustave Le Gray experimented with long exposures and the manual manipulation of light-sensitive plates.

Using a simple pinhole camera—a box with a tiny aperture—Denot strips photography down to its most fundamental elements. Light enters, slowly imprinting itself onto the plate, revealing forms that seem to emerge from another time. His images are not just photographs; they are records of presence, absence, and transformation.

Each piece is the result of patience and technical mastery. The slow shutter speeds create unexpected shifts in color, depth, and texture, making every photograph unique. By embracing the unpredictability of light, Denot pushes the boundaries of what photography can be, reminding us that capturing an image is, at its core, writing with light.

Modesti Perdriolle Gallery
January 23 – March 8, 2025
Wednesday to Friday: 2 PM – 6 PM | Saturday: 11 AM – 6 PM

www.modestiperdriolle.com

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