Interview • 079 PH

Sandra Monvoisin

Barcelona, Spain

Please introduce yourself: What is your name, where are you from, what do you do?

Hello! My name is Sandra Monvoisin. I'm a Spanish/French girl living in Barcelona. I have specialized in the Programming of Art and Cultural Events, and I am working in an advertising agency.

What is your relationship with photography and how did you get into it?

The desire to express myself through photography happened casually. One of my trips to Venice inspired me a lot, and I decided to buy a camera. It was a reconciliation with something familiar that I felt I have always carried in my heart. I, indeed, need to mention that my mother painted in her youth, and I can say I have been familiar with colors and lights when I was a kid.

What do you think triggers you to photograph in a certain moment? Is it planned or solely driven by intuition?

When photographing, I require to be guided by a feeling.

The desire to photograph comes through an instant emotion towards a particular object or a situation. Nevertheless, at certain times, I invent explicit scenes that I would like to represent. In the end, I can say I want to play with intuition and imagination at the same time.

What is the story you want your pictures to tell?

What I seek in my photography is to create a stimulus that I leave the interpretation, idea, feeling to the viewer without any further direction. And, of course, I have an aesthetic curiosity and intention, seeking a certain balance. The fact of forming a specific stimulus, be it visual, intellectual, or even physical, is already a satisfaction for me.

Which city would you like to visit the most, and why?

I like them all! All cities have their own culture, charm, history, problems, which makes them all attractive. I think that more than visiting, the exciting thing about a city is living in it. That's when you have the chance to discover it fully. My heart is torn.

What is your personal relationship to cities, and how do you perceive them as places in general?

I'm a city girl! I have always lived in big cities, so they are my natural habitat. Everything is so concentrated in the cities: The good, the bad, and the worst side of the human being. That intermingled energy inspires me when it comes to taking photos. Objects are essential elements in my photography and are an integral part of the energy of cities. These help me to interpret the dynamics and habits of the people who live in them.

What is the driving force behind creation?

The driving force of my creation is the relationship that I created with photographing within the years. It's the process by which I invent something to learn more about myself. And I believe the artistic expression goes beyond the expected final result. Planning, walking, observing, and reflecting when I take pictures are truly transcendental activities for me.

Which project did you never finish?

Never-finished projects are indeed a classic. If I chose one I would pick a remote, Covid-times project that we planned with my friend and talented London photographer, Seckin Uysal. We have agreed on an exciting project together, but it has never materialized; from here, I'm calling you to the action! :)

What is that «one thing» you have never managed to photograph and is now gone for good?

At the beginning of my artistic journey, this happened to me a lot. I couldn't manage to photograph so many things due to my inexperience with the technique. I remember so many great city nights that I fumbled shooting—night pictures with artificial lights, huge of contrast.

If you could travel back/forth in time, what advice would you give your younger/older self?

I would tell myself to be out there. Not be ashamed of expressing myself and express as much as possible through photography.

What do you prefer saying: «to take a photograph» or to «make a photograph», and why?

If I'm honest, I would say that the two expressions work for me. Most of the time, I take a picture since what I photograph is there by chance. On other occasions, I create the scene myself, so I also feel identified with the business of «to make a photograph».

What is the most interesting experience you have had while photographing?

I think it happens to many of us: we wander through cities and live banal moments full of meaning.

One day I decided to go out to take photos. The weather was perfect, and at one point, it started to rain! I got all wet, and the whole my gear got soaked! A disaster! But when the rain stopped, and the sun came out, a very visible colossal rainbow appeared on the sea horizon. A great moment that made me feel that what I was doing was worth it.

If it wasn’t for photography, what would you be interested in doing instead?

I would dedicate myself to painting; I think it would be the destination I would choose.

How would you describe one of your pictures to a blind person?

It's an excellent question. A picture is a moment of the present and at the same time an emotional contact with the viewer. For what I would possibly try to describe my photography with a caress or why not with music. Blind people are particularly sensitive to this kind of art. I think I would suggest listening to a song from Boards of Canada, one of my favorite IDM groups from the 90s.

What are you currently working on, and—if there is—what is your next project or journey?

At the moment, I'm working on the new website that I hope to have ready at the beginning of April. I am also preparing several trips/escapes to continue my journey in this transcendental experience of photography! ;)

Thank you, Sandra!

Editorial Notes:

If you have a project that you would like to present on this platform, please feel free to share it using the submission form.

Photography: Sandra Monvoisin (2021)
Location: Barcelona, Spain

Links: Website, Instagram

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