Between fascination and repulsion, death remains a relatively taboo theme in our society. Swiss artist Virginie Rebetez makes this absence her main theme throughout her series.

Her latest book « Out of the Blue » offers a personal investigation around Suzanne gone missing for already 20 years. « Under cover » is a series of African tombs covered with sheets according to a funerary ritual. « Packing » shows the clothes worn by some of the deceased at the time of their death. But I would like to focus on an older series entitled « Flirting with Charon ». These are staged in mansions of socially isolated and recently deceased people. The artist takes place within the image and performs daily gestures such as watching TV, eating, sleeping, wearing clothes, watering plants …Yet never the photos of Virginie Rebetez fall into a unhealthy voyeurism. Neither do we feel the choice of the theme for its sensationalism. No superfluous aesthetic either. His questions are at the center of the work and the coherence of the work is total.

Through the example of Virginie Rebetez, I wanted to highlight the importance of sincerity in the constitution of a work. In a world where shining is so significant, we can be tempted to follow trends, to find the right topic that will make people talk about. A few years ago, I remember also wanting to start a work on death when my father died. I had a concept that I was sure would work in the photo contests. I soon felt that I was not in the right place. My photography is more playful. I try to escape reality, to marvel at how the real is transformed through the camera. And in my opinion it is in this unique area that I have the opportunity to produce a good job, to make my contribution to the photography.

http://www.virginierebetez.com/