Spotlight: Virginie Nugere
May 10th, 2022
Interview by Felix Allan @felix_allan
The first of our new spotlight series, we ask five questions to a photographer-to-watch to get a little peek behind the scenes with an emerging creative.
Today we’re introducing Virginie Nugere, a performance artist and photographer whose works look at deconstruction both in theme and in medium. With works which are intimate and initially appear quite quiet, Virginie’s work is a deep reflection on contemporary society and the need to pause to investigate beliefs, thoughts and identity. Pushing what photography means today, through film, mixed media and performance, they’re building a unique portfolio asking: “who I am in this world and how I am connected to it...”
1) How would you introduce your work to someone who hasn’t seen it before?
I work on silence and immobility; I usually work with video performance where I’m standing still in silence in a landscape and eventually something happens. The main premise is that I am small, standing still which invites the viewer to stop for a moment and invites them to be in silence. It works like a mirror, to serve as introspective.
Some of my recent photographs are more about identity. I was working on the theme of metamorphosis and the fact that everything is changing constantly, in the end the identity we portray is ephemeral, it changes from one second to the other. Who are we if everything is constantly changing?
2) What does the veil in your work represent?
It serves as a metaphor for the veil of illusion of identity, but also represents being trapped within one’s own identity or the identity one wishes to present. However, you can also use it to crack the illusion and be free.
3) What drew you to photography as a medium?
I traditionally work in performance however; photography has the ability to capture the present moment which I try and enact in my own life
4) What is the technical process of creating your images?
I used a Canon 6D, I then print the photograph on steel and allow time to affect the work, as the material rusts, the image begins to fade. I then recapture photographs of the steel plates, it is always changing with time, which reflects the subject matter of my work.
5) What’s next for you?
I am still working on the themes of silence and immobility. I am applying for residencies which would be an incredible opportunity to continue my performance especially given some of the remote locations of these opportunities.
About Virginie Nugere
Virginie Nugere is a multi-media artist specialising in photography, performances and video. Their work starts from the diagnosis of a globalized “glitch” in contemporary societies. Moving on from this observation, their work follows their journey to deconstruct beliefs, thoughts and identity.