Julian Lennon "Cycle"

Julian Lennon "Cycle" & Mathieu Bitton "Darker Than Blue" February 9, 2018 - April 7, 2018 The Leica Gallery Frankfurt presents Julian Lennon's "Cycle", as well as Mathieu Bitton's "Darker Than Blue" series. Both deal with foreign cultures and communities which should be honored by their photographic journey and brought closer to the viewer. Julian Lennon "Cycle" A glimpse through the picture window, into the Cycle of Life, of those living on the borders of the South China Sea. "There’s a Circle in our lives, that keeps us going round, and with every revolution, there is something to be found. It’s the essence of the moment, it’s the understanding why, it’s the road to resolution, it’s the journey to the sky…." Julian Lennon has always felt that he has observed life differently, perhaps because his path through life has been so unusual. Nothing could be more apparent, as he reveals to the viewer his keen eye for composition and his gift for capturing an intimate moment. Julian seeks to depict his personal journey as an artist in the midst of unique life experiences. Born in Liverpool, England, Julian Lennon began his artistic trajectory at a young age with an inherent gift for playing musical instruments. Those abilities would soon broaden into the cinematic and visual arts. As an observer of life in all its forms, Julian developed his personal expression through such mediums as music, documentary filmmaking, philanthropy, and now photography. ‘Timeless,’ his first photo exhibition, staged in Manhattan in September 2010, debuted Julian’s considerable talents behind the camera, as seen in photographs of U2 and his painterly landscapes. Since then, he has had multiple exhibitions throughout the US and Europe, many of which have included his ‘Alone’ collection, followed by his most recent ‘Horizon’ which reconciled photography with philanthropy, the results of a Charity: Water and White Feather Foundation initiative, bringing critically needed clean drinking water to parts of Africa. During these travels through Kenya and Ethiopia, Julian captured a wide variety of images with the intention of inspiring viewers to learn about unique indigenous cultures, meanwhile raising awareness of their plights. Empathy, notes Julian Lennon, is the bond that unites the planet. He offers, "We are all in this together, and hopefully someday, the world will realize that…photography is one way to share, learn, appreciate, and experience other cultures, which in turn allows us to empathize with other people’s lives..."   Mathieu Bitton "Darker Than Blue" The photographs in "Darker Than Blue" collection represent moments Mathieu Bitton was fortunate enough to witness throughout his recent world travels. "When I look at these pictures, they feel like they were taken through a time machine, or a lucid dream, carrying every sensation and nuance—hyper realistic contrasts only my Leica cameras can capture." The title "Darker Than Blue" references a 1970 Curtis Mayfield lyric from the Civil Rightsthemed, "We People Who Are Darker Than Blue." Mathieu always loved its depth and symbolism, and has sought to reflect that paradox of hope and struggle in these images. His lifelong passion for the history, music, cinema, posters, and other arts of the black community comes full circle with this exhibit as his contribution to artifacts that honor and reflect such a rich and beautiful culture. "I am very grateful to Leica for allowing me to share it in such a manner."   Photographs by Mathieu Bitton... mehr

Julian Lennon *April 8, 1963, Liverpool, England Julian Lennon has always felt that he has observed life differently, perhaps because his path through life has been so unusual. Nothing could be more apparent, as he reveals to the viewer his keen eye for composition and his gift for capturing an intimate moment. Julian seeks to depict his personal journey as an artist in the midst of unique life experiences. Born in Liverpool, England, Julian Lennon began his artistic trajectory at a young age with an inherent gift for playing musical instruments. Those abilities would soon broaden into the cinematic and visual arts. As an observer of life in all its forms, Julian developed his personal expression through such mediums as music, documentary filmmaking, philanthropy, and now photography. ‘Timeless,’ his first photo exhibition, staged in Manhattan in September 2010, debuted Julian’s considerable talents behind the camera, as seen in photographs of U2 and his painterly landscapes. Since then, he has had multiple exhibitions throughout the US and Europe, many of which have included his ‘Alone’ collection, followed by his most recent ‘Horizon’ which reconciled photography with philanthropy, the results of a Charity: Water and White Feather Foundation initiative, bringing critically needed clean drinking water to parts of Africa. During these travels through Kenya and Ethiopia, Julian captured a wide variety of images with the intention of inspiring viewers to learn about unique indigenous cultures, meanwhile raising awareness of their plights. Empathy, notes Julian Lennon, is the bond that unites the planet. He offers, “We are all in this together, and hopefully someday, the world will realize that…photography is one way to share, learn, appreciate, and experience other cultures, which in turn allows us to empathize with other people’s lives...”... mehr