Stories through the lens
A Coronew World by Grégory Herpe
by Julie-Ann Sherlock
A newly launched book by French photographer Grégory Herpe takes a close look at society and how it's been shaped by the Coronavirus pandemic. ALHAUS magazine first featured a glimpse into Herpe's ongoing A Coronew World exhibition in July 2020; the release of the book brings the entire project together.
"It was released in January and is available worldwide but I only sell it on my official website. Usually, my books are published by real publishers but on this project, I decided to do everything alone," explains Herpe.
For this talented artist, telling a story has always been important; he feels that now more than ever people need escapism. "In France, theatres and cinemas are closed, people read more. With my camera, I have to tell a story because otherwise, what's the point?"
The exhibition and book explore several layers of the human story. "Of course, they are masked portraits and the starting idea was the pandemic. In the end, I think I used this drama to tell other stories! It's not a statement about COVID-19, but a look at our society through this catastrophe," he notes.
It's important to Herpe that his work makes people think. "Behind the pandemic, the same problems persist. We hide a little more behind our masks, and journalists only talk about the pandemic. But climate warming is still going on; women are dying every day under the blows of their partners; animal species are disappearing every day; LGBTQ people are risking their lives in dozens of countries; wars and terrorism are killing innocent people. But we don't talk about it anymore. They are hidden, digested by the Corona. So in each of my portraits, I spoke about other problems, using very symbolic masks that raise awareness."
With France entering a new lockdown phase, Herpe will continue working on his Deep into Drag Queens project. "These photos show something more than just the party, colourful dresses, the laughter, the extravagance. For me, it is important to show the other side of that scene. Many have been rejected, beaten and mocked and yet they smile at life and show who they are with great courage."
Normally a world traveller, Herpe has found staying put in Paris for the last eight months difficult. "When I can travel again, I want to go back to Scandinavia and especially to Norway. It will be a return to nature, a communion and a return to the minimalist photos in which I speak about our place in this world."