Gaetan Bernede

Son of an Argentinian mother ( herself daughter of Italian and polish emigres in Buenos Aires ), and a French antiquarian father. Gaetan grew up in the remote pyrenean part of the French country side. Living a rather peaceful childhood in Pau, Bearn. He fell really early into the arts and crafts. Or just never left them. Distracting himself by creating the worlds he wanted to witness. His initial focus laid in drawing and animation. It was at age 16 he decided to attend a 2d animation short course at St Martins, London, in order to nurture his skills. Even though working on an animator’s disk was exciting. London was a revelation. Returning home from this experience with a new chosen path for his life. London. Working the following three years in order to make this his reality. He finally integrated Central St Martins for his foundation, and BA in graphic design & visual communication. During the following three years of his graduation he worked as a graphic designer & art director. Meanwhile, taking days off this job in order to assist some of London’s most exciting fashion photographers. Broadening this way his knowledge for this craft he fell-in by mistake. When, still in high school, he built his first pinhole camera. Slowly, and suspiciously, entering the rabbit's hole. To never reach the surface ever again. Making his 19th century cameras and technics his tools/ companions of predilection in order to materialise his personal, quiet, dreamed world of shadows and faint appearances. London is still the canvas where he mixes those new and past influences. Childhood memories. The eclectic treasures gathered by his dad and grandad. The art his mother infused him. And, a copious amount of curiosity for the un-noticed, fragile, ephemeral. All of these are the frames for both his personal and commercial practice. This blend of influences and experiences is best expressed through his glass plate work ( ambrotypes ), of dying flowers. Hopelessly attempting to capture the fainting beauty of flowers last breathes's on a thin piece of glass and silver. An endless battle against the flow of time. Producing a hunting artefact of a now long presence. Each step of the capture ritual, and presentation, has been carefully considered. Wanting the audience to experience those physical objects at this specific scale. He built his own tool. A 10x10cm large format camera. A rather non conventional size for plates or negatives. Forcing intimacy and curiosity due to this small scale. Ultimately the output is being limited, and therefor defined, by his own ( hand ) skills, rather than by a mass camera manufacturer. A true extension of himself, taking Gaetan closer to his personal philosophy he developed through his intense practice of drawing.