Welcome to the Exhibition!
In this section, I will explain and give insights on my first showcase which was held in Russia, Vladivostok.
Exhibition
Official poster of my Premier exhibition
18 September 2019 to 13 October 2019
Vladivostok Russia
Entry:
At the entry, we can see a poster showing the opening and closing day.
On the left side of the poster there is my face, it was my first self-portrait.
On the top of the poster, we can read two logos.
One of the logo names is the name of the library (Primorskaya Krayevaya Publichnaya Biblioteka Im. A.m. Gor'kogo)
The second one is Alliance Française Vladivostok. Alliance Française are the French government that promote the French culture and teach other countries the French language.
First room:
On the first room, we imagined many different layouts. The first layout we thought it could be like a plant root. Once we put this into practical, Appolina, her husband and I realised how hard it can be to make the root layout with the resources we had. After that unsuccessful attempt, we tried a second layout of creating an eye shape to give my creations a mysterious sense and as if my photographs are observing you while you observe them.
Making these eyes shape was a challenge because we tried to make a sense how to position each picture. The organizer Appolina and I positioned the paintings with the help of some volunteers.
As you can see from the photo on the right, here are my first 2 visitors. By the end of the exhibition, I was surprised to see around 20 people admiring my creations.
Second room:
Appolina and I decided to expose some landscape photographs in this second room as we thought it would guide guests naturally in this room. Thus, we have a bigger room to let guests approach and interact with me.
Most of the guests who came were local photographers. For around 30 minutes, I had to respond to the guest’s questions about my styles, angle, preferences and perspectives of photography. I found it very exciting to share time with the local photographers and tell them more about me.
I was treated very well, they gave me plenty of advice also, buying me a photography book to help me think of more ideas.
Second room:
On the right bottom corner, we can see there are two chairs with two glasses and two bottles of water.
Thus, Appolina decided to organise an interview at 7 pm for the first guests coming at the opening ceremony. Appolina asked to the "Alliance Française Vladivostok” to come at the opening ceremony for diverse tasks. For 1 hour I had been interviewed by numerous of guests. Mainly the questions were about my personality, my background, why I started photography and what the main purpose of my life is.
Second room:
In this second room , Appolina , the director of the library decided to offer diverse drinks and snacks to our guests.
It was a pretty great idea because it's was an excellent way for everyone to meet guests.
We offered red wine , champagne , sparkling water , water and orange juice.
We also prepared some snacks , we tried to make some easy snacks to eat. This buffet was self service , guests can eat and drink anything they want at anytime.
Second room:
In this second room , Appolina , the director of the library decided to offer diverse drinks and snacks to our guests.
It was a pretty great idea because it's was an excellent way for everyone to meet guests.
We offered red wine , champagne , sparkling water , water and orange juice.
We also prepared some snacks , we tried to make some easy snacks to eat. This buffet was self service , guests can eat and drink anything they want at anytime.
Interview time 7 pm:
Appolina the organizer decided to organise an interview at 7 pm for the guests coming at the opening ceremony.
Appolina asked Elena to help us with the translation during all the opening ceremony. Elena works for the Alliance Française Vladivostok to come at the opening ceremony for diverse task.
After 1 hour of questions, there is a guest that asked me why I decided to do an auction for selling my photographs. The main reason for this was because I wanted to donate all the money to a charity that will put it to good use. Appolina agreed to do this, immediately after this idea she started to look on the internet which organisation I can donate the money I raised for this organisation. I thought at the beginning to donate the money to homeless people. Unfortunately we couldn't, because she told me the reason. There is a risk of corruption by the organisation/charity. Knowing this information I decided to donate to a hospital that takes care of child who has cancer.
Before I came to Russia, I talked a lot with Appolina by messages about a second project. Already having my own exhibition was something I have never imagined in my life. But I wanted to make another parallel project to this one.
On the two pictures above, we can see there is a woman on the left side. This woman is the director of the hospital where I decided to do the donations.
She was invited to this exhibition but she didn't know the reason why she had to be here.
On the right picture we can see her reaction immediately after saying to her my idea. She felt really touched by my words and my actions towards her hospital. After she hugged me, she suggested me to come the next day to visit her hospital, in the oncology service.
I accept it without any hesitation.
The director and I:
I would like to thank the director of the hospital for giving me the opportunity to visit the hospital.
She has been very professional and she tried her best to use some English words for the explanation.
Also, she organised a meeting with the kids and their relative. Her main goal was to explain and promote my project for these children.
Luckily Appolina was here to translate, explain my ideas and my vision on how I wanted help them.
Before that day, I have never been to an oncology service. At the beginning of the visit, I felt anxious and stressed because I was worried about my reactions to see people having a cancer.
Once I met these lovely children with their parents, they welcomed me in a friendly manner.
Elena and I:
I want to say a big thanks to Elena.
She was very professional, doing her best to find the right words for giving me the best translation.
Having her on my side , I felt relieved because our communicaton was fluent.
I am so grateful having her on my side as an intepreter.
She was so friendly and caring towards me.
She gave me some informations about Russian people.
Without her , I am sure my showcase would have been different.
If she wasn't here , we weren't be able to make the interview.
This is why I do appreciate her presence and her willingness to come at my showcase.
First room:
Over 8 pm the opening day is finished.
Once everything was finished, I realised slowly how the week was insanely intense.
Overall, I felt happy about this exhibition because everything was running smoothly. From the musicians to the interpreter or to the reception of the guests to the auction.
Thanks to the guests coming to my showcase and letting me take a picture with them in front of my photographs. Without all the guests presence, nothing would have been possible to have a great start this exhibiton and auction.
Conclusion:
*** Important Announcement ***
Hello everybody ,
I am proud to announce to all of you ,that my exhibition has been successful.
Why my exhibit has been successful?
First of all , opening and mounting it own exhibition in Russia.
Is by far the most important project I have done in my entire life.
Second important point , the staff has sold in a month 19 pictures out of 40 pictures we had printed.
It means almost 50% of my work had been sold.
It such an agreeable feeling to know my photographs can be sold.
Now , I am going to talk about a major point why I have done this exhibition, also giving you the reasons why I went to Russia.
As you know I sold 19 pictures in total.
We have actually collected 4300 Russian Rubles, it's about 70 US dollars.
I decided to donate all the money to the kids who have cancer or any medical problems.
Thanks a million to the people who bought my pictures, it will help a lot to the people who needs it.
Best regards Alexis