Pierrot Men Madagascar's most famous photographer

If you are planning a Madagascar vacation for photographers, you can't help but take a closer look at this famous child of the red island. But a closer look at Pierrot Men's photographic work is worthwhile even if you are a layman in the field of photography. Hardly any other artist manages to capture the rough, exotic beauty of the island and the Originality of its inhabitants capture. His picture series resemble a Chronicle of the country and its culture in its perfect, brute splendor. We can only warmly recommend a visit to the photo studio of our longtime friend.

Pierrot Men's path to becoming a photo artist

Pierrot Chan Hong Men, alias Pierrot Men, was born in November 1954 in Midongy -du-sud on the East coast of Madagascar was born. His father has Chinese roots, while his mother is of French-Madagascan descent. At the age of 20, Pierrot Men opens his first Photo lab in Fianarantsoa where he also pursues his work to this day. The beginnings of his career were extremely difficult. He made his living primarily by taking passport photos. Occasionally he was also booked for weddings and christenings. He became interested in art at an early age, even if he initially saw himself more as a painter than as an artistic photographer: Pierrot initially used his photographs as models for paintings. Only after seventeen years of artistic activity, an acquaintance of Pierrot's had the courage to tell him that his photographs were much have a more immediate effect on the viewer than his resulting paintings and drawings. Pierrot Men describes this moment today as the one in which he recognized his true destiny: it is the moment in which he first saw in photography his actual talent and especially its Passion as well as his Lifework sees. After this revelation, success was not very long in coming. In 1994 he gets as First prize at the Mother Jones exhibition in San Francisco his first Leica camera, which he has carried with him ever since.

Close to the people - The theme in Men's pictures

The photographer used the success of his first exhibition to expand his fame. Today he is also a sought-after artist beyond the borders of Madagascar. Many prizes, awards, books and exhibitions around the world make him known around the globe. In German-speaking countries, the artist is currently still considered rather an insider tip. In Madagascar, however, he is considered a true idol. At Espace Soafia and in the Zomatel in Fianarantsoa, for example, numerous postcards as well as prints of his exhibition photos are offered for sale and form a particularly impressive, authentic souvenir of a trip to Madagascar.

It is very difficult his work and the sensitivity, in which he proceeds, to put into words. Gladly the artist works according to themes. His photos then take on the character of a photo reportage. Particularly fascinating and from incredible depth thus testifies his pictorial documentation of Malagasy fishermen. With his photos Men moves completely close to the peoplewithout the feeling that they would pose. Finely composed and Extremely discreet the viewer is immersed in the photographic environment. involved. Pierrot Men's homeland is Madagascar and for this reason he succeeds like no other chronicler, Face and personality of people in its photo galleries to underline. Pierrot Men makes the Indian Ocean his photographic universe and takes the viewer of his photographs by the hand and leads him into the Innermost, in the worries, in the pleasures of everyday life and opens up unexpected perspectives on the Secrets of the red island.

"During my shoots, sometimes I immediately understand what I see; but it also often happens to feel the situations instinctively without understanding them, my Instinct trust and leave the perspective to the moment. And so, day after day, I try to tiny and inconspicuous fragments of lifeI am looking for the emotions of the time without being able to put them into words because the words to these emotions are simply missing. Actually, I am capable of only one activity; I take photos, just photos....because thinking through an image intellectually risks seeing it disappear again."

Pierrot Men on the net

Get a first overview of the fascinating photographic art Pierrot Mens. In total 9 Portfolios can be found under this Link and leave no doubt that the artist has earned his great success. The first of his photo books published so far 16 is called " Gens de Tana " and was published in 1994 in collaboration with Elie Rajaonarison elaborated. Here you will find a Link to his homepage with an overview of his works. There is also an impressive photo gallery on Flickr under this Link to see.