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What would the watchmaking industry without men? It would be nothing, it seems so obvious to discover what’s happening on the other side of the curtain. Let us introduce you the talented photographer Guy Lucas Peslouan, you probably know his work through the works carried out for Richard Mille and Peter Speake Marin.
T.H: Guy, could you explain how have you come up to the watchmaking industry?
G.L.P: I could tell you by chance, however…
After I published a book about Hermès in 2003, regarding the collection Emilie Hermès and other creations made by Hermès, Richard MILLE arrived at the office of the editor I was working with, saying he was wanted a book, not any book, but rather a non common one… this is how I entered the world of the Haute watchmaking industry. It gave me the opportunity to work with Valgine’s team but mainly with APRP’s.
Later on, thanks to Théodore Diehl, I met many independent watch-makers such as Roger W. Smith or Kari Voutilainen.
It was the beginning of a big love story, a close relationship between timepieces, watchmakers and I. I hope it will last for a long time still.
T.H: What are your other passions?
G.L.P: In photography it’s the haute jewelry-making. I lived nice adventures with Boucheron and Van Cleef & Arpels, and also with Gilan, a Turkish jewelry-maker.
In general, I like work which is related with art. Artisans are amazing people, with a fantastic know-how and a big passion for their work. It is really pleasant to see them working, to meet them and share their humanity.
I also worked a lot in cosmetic and perfume industry. It is very technical: about transparency, texture and reflection… it helped me a lot while working with watches and jewelery. But personally I particularly love working with water and steam. This very random aspect that generates textures, movements and shapes, and makes them so unique.
For the rest:
- Music, particularly jazz music. I can’t play, but I do listen to many different styles
- The sea: its power commands respect and put us back to our suitable position.
- Ski and horses.
- Meeting people and human relationships…
T.H: What is the biggest difference between the work you have been doing and the watch-making industry?
G.L.P: As a photographer of dead nature, I would describe myself as a light carver.
I consider that objects I take pictures of have a soul.
The idea is to try to portray the emotions that the object reflects, as well as its beauty. The only main difference is about the approach with the object.
Taking pictures about people is not what I am specialized on. However it is really a great thing when there is a good feeling out there. I love taking pictures during jazz concerts. It is very intuitive and instinctive. Sometimes magic.
T.H: What timepiece struck you the most?
G.L.P: Hard to answer, I still have so much to discover.
The first one was the RM 008 of richard Mille; the second one was the pocket-watch grande sonnerie from Audemars Piguet; then Lange & Sôhne’s Datograph. A lot of many beautiful things at from independents: the quality of their finishing touches, the innovative and classic shape of their movements. The design of Peter Speake-Marin’s watches is amazing: its simplicity, the femininity of its shapes and the strength that comes out of it. Have you ever watched a Bethune from very close?I also like Jaeger Lecoultre’s Atmos or the planétaire of Richard.
T.H: What is the person that you remember the most in the watch-making industry?
G.L.P: I don’t know them all, not at all. Julio Papi, because of his quite strength, his genius creativity and his humanism. Thomas Prescher for his tri-axial tourbillon. Nicolas Hayek or Jean-Claude Biver, both big «eaters» with great intuitions. Richard Mille, the watch-maker of the third millennium… Lionel Ladoire, the free electron.
Maximilien Büsser and his universe and so many others…
T.H: What angle do you prefer taking pictures of in a timepiece? Why?
G.L.P: As I said previously, objects have a soul.
From that point of view, each timepiece has its good and bad sides. Better showing the best sides then. This is what makes me choose an angle rather than another. And it also depends on how open-minded is the client.
T.H: Which photographer influenced you the most in your work?
G.L.P: A big photographer from the 70′s-90′s: Daniel Jouanneau
He used to work all the time with the same kind of light but the result was amazing.
That was also during the glorious time of the large format silver-film (20X25), and from which I come.
It was also the time of Newton and Peter Lindberg in fashion.
T.H: What message do you try to communicate in your artwork?
G.L.P: Pieces I take pictures of have all a message. I just try my best to picture them with sensitivity
and humanity. A picture is successful only when it contains life and the person who looks at it appropriates it.
T.H: How the you see now the watch-making industry?
G.L.P: We live is a very unstable time. It will enable this industry to re-position itself with less “bling-bling” and with more “watch-making”. Creativity is already present in this realm, and I am sure we will see quite soon very astonishing things.
The haute Horlogerie has a bright future ahead. We are talking here about art, and art cannot die. So I am quite optimistic.
T.H: Where can we fid your artwork?
G.L.P: I have some kind of page on Facebook: Guy Lucas de Peslouan
An internet website (not updated), soon renewed: www.artsight.fr
I also made six book so far with les éditions du cercle d’art
Hermès, la beauté en voyage, (saddlery, leather goods)
Boucheron, la Capture de l’éclat, (Haute joaillerie)
Richard Mille, Richard Mille (1) and Individus techniques (2), Individus humains, (Haute Horlogerie)
Van Cleef & Arpels, Reflets d’éternité (1), ( Haute joaillerie) and le Temps poétique (2), (Haute Horlogerie).¨
I also participated in book about watchmaking finishing touches made byAudemars Piguet.
I will exhibit a personal artwork about steam called Allégories 2 from September 7th to 12th at the gallery L’œil du Huit
8, rue Milton
75009 Paris
Hours : from Tuesday to Saturday from14:00 19:00
Sunday from 11:00 to 19:00
A private exhibition on Thursday 9 September 9th from18h30
Some pictures of Guy
