——对话法国摄影师Francois（点击链接看他的图虫页面）
Rearview | France | 2017
采访、翻译：路舒
编辑：杜扬
Francois你好，感谢来图虫上传你的大作！你愿意给大家介绍一下你自己和你的作品吗？
Hi Francois! Thanks for uploading your great works! Would you like to introduce yourself and your work to us?
大家好！谢谢你们喜欢我的作品。
我是一个法国街头摄影师，我现在住在洛杉矶。我在上海读了环境设计的硕士研究生，毕业后，我作为展览室内设计师工作了5年。我最近一直在洛杉矶的盖蒂美术馆为展览做室内设计，不过我也开始用我自己的创意去实现我的艺术实践。我制作了我自己的艺术作品纸质版。我会出门拍照，然后把我最喜欢的作品印刷出来，在我自己的线上店售卖。
我把我的作品描述为“偶遇平面”。它是对日常生活中隐藏的几何、图案的记录，使每日平凡的事物变成奇特的影像。
Hello everyone and thank you for your interest in my work.
I am a French street photographer living in Los Angeles. After graduating from a Masters degree in Environmental Design in Shanghai, I worked as an exhibition and interior designer for five years. I was recently still designing shows at the Getty Museum, here in LA, but left to use my creativity towards my own artistic practice. That’s when I created François Aubret | fine art prints. I go out, take photos and sell my favorites as prints on my own online shop.
I describe my body of work as “Graphic Encounters.” It is a documentation of hidden geometry and patterns I come across in my daily life. My discoveries turn the mundane of everyday errands into extraordinary captures.
你的作品中无论是色彩还是元素都极为简洁利落。你是如何在杂乱的生活环境中捕捉到这样纯净的画面的？更依赖前期还是后期？
In your work, no matter the color or the subject, everything is concise and well composed. How do you make such clean image despite of the chaos of environment? Do you rely more on shooting, or more on the retouching?
确实，我的照片都很干净，因为我自己就是这样子的。你们真应该来看看我的公寓！水槽里从来不会有堆积的脏盘子。我在一个脏乱的环境里没法清醒思考和富有创造力。
当我外出拍照时，我会花很多时间来构图，去等待那个正确的时刻。所以我比较依赖前期！在户外花时间，不被打扰地去做你想做的事，是非常令人愉悦的事情。 当我回家后，当然我会做一些后期处理，但基本上只是修饰一些我拍摄时没有注意到的小细节，比如说灰尘，墙上的裂缝等。我只会把照片处理到和我看到时候一样的感觉。我对我的作品也十分挑剔。
It is true, my photos are very clean because I am very much this way myself. You should see my apartment! There is never a dirty plate in the sink. I just can’t think straight and be creative in a messy environment.
When I am out shooting I spend a lot of time composing my photos and waiting for the right moment. That’s what I rely on the most! It is very enjoyable to be outside and take the time to do what you like without being rushed. Once I get home I, of course, do a bit of editing but it is usually just clean ups of distracting details that I didn’t even notice while shooting (like dirt or cracks on a wall). I only edit my images to get back to what I felt when looking at the scene. I am also very selective with my photos.
你在个人网站上写道：“这些照片揭示了在熟视无睹的城市景观中隐藏的美丽和幽默”，确实，你有很强的观察力，擅长为你的作品营造幽默的气氛。你是有意抱着这样的目的去大街上拍照，还是在日常生活中随时就保持着敏锐的观察力？
You write on your website, ‘These photographs reveal the hidden beauty and humor in overlooked urban scenes’. Indeed, you have great ability of observation, and are very talented at create humorous atmosphere. Do you go to the street on the purpose of finding this kind of humor, or just keep sensitive and come across them in daily life?
其实都有点。经常我会因为没带相机而错过一个非常好的“平面邂逅”，所以我现在都随身带着相机。不过我也会计划花几天的时间在洛杉矶扫街，看看我能发现什么。简直就像寻宝游戏！有时候我去不熟悉的地方，有时候我也会在熟悉的地方拍摄。我总是能在每天都经过的街道发现新的感觉。这是摄影的魔力：在正确的时间，在场。
A little bit of both. It is always when I don’t have my camera with me that I miss great “Graphic Encounters.” So I always take it with me now. But I also plan shooting days around LA and see what I can find. It is like treasure hunting! Somedays I go explore parts of the city I don’t know and some other days I walk around familiar places. I am always amazed to find new shots on streets that I walk on everyday. That’s the magic of photography: being there at the right time.
你的作品都是在LA拍摄的，你是否十分热爱这个城市？你在这个城市中发生过什么有趣的事情？
You shoot the series of ‘Graphic Encounters’ in Los Angeles. Do you love this city? What’s the most interesting thing happened there during your work?
洛杉矶是个奇怪的城市，它慢慢地会让你爱上它。当然你会立刻爱上它的天气和棕榈树，但是这个城市太大了，而且道路、城市都是专门是为汽车而设计的，所以对于新来的人要找到归属感还是挺难的。它跟我去过的其他城市都不一样，不过我现在是真的很爱它。它非常悠闲。而且，文创产业在这里发展得很好，这也是很棒的一点。
我最近遇到的有趣的事情是，当我在市中心拍照时，一个大楼管理员停下来跟我说“抬头看！抬头看！”他指着一个坐在楼顶的鹰给我看。他告诉我，它的主人养这只鹰是为了驱赶鸽子。在城市的心脏之处看到这么个动物太令人意外了，而且我最喜欢的是我能因为摄影，跟陌生人产生一些短暂但是有意义的互动。
Los Angeles is a strange city that grows slowly on you. Of course you immediately fall in love with the weather and the palm trees. But the city is so spread out and made for cars that it is difficult for a new comer to find a sense of belonging and community. It is very different than any other city I have been to, but I do love it now. It is very laid back. Plus, creative industries are emerging everywhere here and it is great to see.
The most interesting thing that happened to me recently was when I was taking photos around Downtown LA. A building keeper stopped and told me “Look up! Look up!” He was pointing at a falcon sitting atop a building. He told me everything about it and how the owner is using it to chase pigeons away. Seeing such a creature in the heart of the city was so unexpected and I loved how my camera created a short but meaningful interaction with a stranger.
除了加州的好天气，还有哪些因素对于一幅色彩明快、赏心悦目的作品来说是必要的？
Besides of the amazing weather in LA, what else are essential to your pleasant and enjoyable style?
确实，洛杉矶的好天气对于我的照片来说很重要，但并不是唯一的因素。我寻找的是高度平面化，经常是一个不同表面、不同颜色、不同纹理物件的组合。如果它很古怪，比如说是一种奇异的颜色组合，或者是建筑物在建造时留下的怪异的细节，那会更好。我的作品还非常扁平，而且不会有人出现。我喜欢这种介于抽象和现实之间的界限，对我来说，景深和人物会让我的作品太过现实。
Indeed, the amazing LA weather plays a big part in my photos but it is not the only element. What I am looking at has to be highly graphic, usually a combination of different surfaces with different colors and textures. It is even better if it is quirky like an odd combination of colors or a weird detail on a building that has been left out during its construction. It also has to be very flat and no people. I like the fine line between abstraction and reality and, to me, depth of field and people add too much reality to my photos.
我看到你不仅摄影，还有非常棒的插画作品“泳池面条”系列。能看出不论是色彩还是风格，都十分“Francois”，你在创作摄影和插画时有哪些相同和不同的感受？
You uploaded your illustration ‘Pool Noodle’ on Facebook. I can see both the color and style of your illustration are very ‘Francois’, too. What’s the different and the same, between the feeling of photographing and painting?
太好玩了！我的“泳池面条”系列其实是我拍的照片，不过我真的很高兴你会认为它是一组插画作品。我倒不是故意误导观者，但是我喜欢这种构图和颜色的小把戏能让人误以为是插画。所以我要强调我上一个问题所说的，我喜欢这种抽象和现实之间模糊不清的界线，在这个地带中，平凡会成为不凡，这就是我想让人们在日常生活中能得到的如梦般的视觉体验。
This is too funny! My “Pool Noodle” series is actually a series of photos and I am so glad you thought it was a series of illustrations. It wasn’t my intention to mislead the viewer but I like that the compositions and play of colors tricked your mind into thinking it was an illustration. To reinforce what I said earlier, I like the fine line between abstraction and reality. That’s where the ordinary becomes extraordinary and that’s how I want to make people dream in their own daily lives.
Pool Noodle Wallpaper_by Francois Aubret
你的作品有着有趣的标题。比如Genesis中，乍一看只是树影之间和谐的对比，但是看到你的标题是“创世纪”，立刻就让人联想到米开朗琪罗的油画。这非常有意思！作品Penrose也给人这种感觉。你认为一幅摄影作品，标题和内容之间的关系是什么？这是否也是一种画面以外的幽默？
You make interesting captions. Take the ‘Genesis’ for example. I just see the shadow of leaves forms a harmonious duality at first glance, but when I notice the caption ‘Genesis’, I suddenly get the metaphor of the oil painting of Michelangelo. It’s very interesting! ‘Penrose’ gives me this feeling too. What’s your opinion on the relation between the caption and the image? Is it another kind of humor in your works?
给作品取名字其实不太容易，尤其是当我依着本能拍照时。我大多数的照片都是本能地被拍下的。只是之后我才会意识到它们是那么引人入胜。你给你的作品起的标题能够为“你是谁”和“你想与谁对话”定下基调。所以当说到标题，我发现我能够让它们跟我的照片本身一样地简单，有趣又简洁。我会尽量使我的标题成为某种线索，能让人们看到我看到的，或者让他们发笑。我希望人们看到我的作品会感觉很舒服。所以，一点幽默和轻松能让这样的对话顺利地开始。谁不喜欢笑一笑呢！
It is not an easy task to name your work, especially as I act so instinctively with photography. Most of my photos are the results of visceral reactions. It is only afterwards that I analyze what is so compelling about this or that shot. The name you give your creations sets the tone of who you are and who you want to be talking to. So when it comes to that, I realized I could keep it simple, fun and concise like my photos. As much as I can, I like to use the names as clues for people to see what I see or make them laugh. I want people to feel comfortable with my art. So starting a conversation with humor and ease is the best way to do it to me. Everyone loves a good laugh!
Genesis（《创世纪》） | Los Angeles | 2017
△米开朗基罗作品《创世纪》之创造亚当
Penrose（彭罗斯） | Los Angeles | 2017
△彭罗斯阶梯（英语：Penrose stairs）是一个有名的几何学悖论，指的是一个始终向上或向下但却无限循环的阶梯，可以被视为彭罗斯三角形的一个变体，在此阶梯上永远无法找到最高的一点或者最低的一点。
你在将多幅作品摆放在一起的时候，尤其是用于室内空间设计时，是根据什么因素来考虑他们之间的编排的？
When you put several prints together, especially when to decorate the interior space, how do you decide the layout?
现在是一个室内设计师身份的我在回答这个问题。要装饰一面画廊的墙壁，我会同时考虑三个因素：布局，画面，以及墙边的家具。照片对一个布局平衡、舒服的画廊墙有很大的影响。墙前的家具会给你一个框架，帮助你寻找墙上的兴趣点。我会建议人们从放置大幅作品开始布置他们的墙面。先把它们放在墙前面的地板，然后找到一个你喜欢的位置。它会给你一个没有风险的预知它看起来是什么样子的感觉。一旦被挂起来了，尝试在周围布置中幅和小幅作品。画廊墙最关键的是和谐，所以要多尝试，胆大心细。大大小小，高高低低，排成一排还是排成格子状——试到你爽为止。相信你自己的眼光，最主要的是开心。
This is going to be the interior designer in me talking. To create gallery walls I take 3 elements into consideration at the same time: the layout, the imagery and the furniture sitting in front of the wall. What the image is about has a big influence on a well balanced gallery wall. The furniture placed in front will give you a framework to work with and help you create points of interests on your wall. I would advise people to start placing their large prints first. Lay them on the ground in front of the wall you are working on first, and find the spacing you like. It will give you a sense of how it will look without taking any risk. Once it’s up, play with the medium and small ones around. Gallery walls are about harmony so play with what is bold and subtle, large and small, high and low, in line and off the grid until you are happy with it. Trust your vision and have fun with it!
你接下来的计划是什么？除了室内设计，你有想过以其他形式呈现你的作品吗？
What’s your next plan? Except for interior decoration, what else forms you want to try to take to present your works?
如果能办展会很cool。这样就完成了我从一个展厅设计师到艺术家的转变。我挺喜欢全职做这事儿的。除此以外，街头艺术也不错？我只是很好奇我的照片如果以这种方式再次介入城市环境，看起来会怎么样？会有趣吗？其实我也不知道。但我乐意开放接受一切想法和合作。
Some exhibition would definitely be cool. That would complete my journey of exhibition designer to artist of a show. I kind of like the idea of going full circle on that. Other than that I was thinking street art maybe? I am just wondering how these photos would look if reintroduced in an urban environment. Would that be interesting? I don’t know. I keep myself open to any ideas and collaborations.
你曾在上海住过6年。如果“色彩”和“阳光”是你眼中的洛杉矶，那么你眼中的上海会是什么？
You have lived in Shanghai for 6 years. If color and sunshine is the key words of Los Angeles, then what’s the key words of Shanghai?
上海其实不是一个很多彩的城市，当然晚上那些霓虹灯还是超棒的。所以我会用“迷雾”和“水泥”来形容它，很适合拍摄单色的，神秘色彩的照片。我在上海的时候还不是一个摄影师，所以我挺想回去找找看有没有符合我创作“偶遇平面”系列的作品。不过我拍摄的方式会彻底改变，想想就有点小激动。
Shanghai is not a very colorful city, except for all the awesome neon signs and lights everywhere at night. So I would say mist and concrete. That would make some pretty cool monochromatic and mysterious shots. I wasn’t a photographer at that time so I would love to go back and see what kind of “Graphic Encounters” I could find there. My approach might totally change and that’s kind of exciting.
想对图虫的大家说些什么？
What do you want to say to people on Tuchong?
我想感谢大家如此欣赏我的作品，我希望这篇采访也能让你读着觉得有趣。我知道春节快来了，祝福大家过年团团圆圆！新年快乐！
I simply want to thank you all for the love and I hope reading this has been interesting. I know Chinese New Year is coming up and I wish you all a great time with your family! 新年快乐!
附Francois个人网站：https://www.francoisaubret.com/