Lise Sarfati
Lise Sarfati was born in Oran, Algeria, in 1958 and grew up in France. She studied Russian Studies at the Sorbonne and received her master’s degree in 1979. Her interest in Russia began when she was young. From 1989 to 1998, she spent long periods there, photographing people, buildings and places during the years after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
These photographs became Acta Est, her first major body of work, published by Phaidon in 2000. Sarfati photographed wooden houses, Soviet-era buildings, damaged interiors, industrial spaces and people living in very different conditions. The photographs document a country going through major changes, but they do not look like traditional photojournalism. People and places often seem carefully arranged, almost like scenes from a film.
These photographs became Acta Est, her first major body of work, published by Phaidon in 2000. Sarfati photographed wooden houses, Soviet-era buildings, damaged interiors, industrial spaces and people living in very different conditions. The photographs document a country going through major changes, but they do not look like traditional photojournalism. People and places often seem carefully arranged, almost like scenes from a film.
Lise Sarfati
Subscribe and read about Master of fine-art photography! This will help us to produce more quality material exclusively for our subscribers!
By clicking on the button, you consent to the processing of your personal data
«My work exists at the edge of reality and fiction».
Sarfati later turned her attention to young people. For The New Life, she travelled across the United States and photographed teenagers and young adults in Texas, North Carolina, Oregon, California and other states. The series was published as a book in 2005.
The people in The New Life often look as if they are waiting for something. They sit in bedrooms, stand outside houses or walk through empty spaces. Sarfati does not explain who they are or what is happening in their lives. The photographs leave the story open.
The people in The New Life often look as if they are waiting for something. They sit in bedrooms, stand outside houses or walk through empty spaces. Sarfati does not explain who they are or what is happening in their lives. The photographs leave the story open.
Between 2005 and 2009, she worked on She, a series about four women. She photographed them in houses, bedrooms, streets and other everyday places. The pictures are personal, but they do not tell us much about the women. We see a moment, but not the whole story.
Sarfati has also worked with fashion. In one of her projects in Austin, Texas, she photographed young women for a fashion commission but focused more on the people and places than on the clothes. The photographs feel closer to portraits than traditional fashion pictures.
Sarfati has also worked with fashion. In one of her projects in Austin, Texas, she photographed young women for a fashion commission but focused more on the people and places than on the clothes. The photographs feel closer to portraits than traditional fashion pictures.
«I also like the silent photographic image».
Cinema has been an important influence on Sarfati. She has spoken about filmmakers such as Robert Bresson, Jean-Luc Godard and Dziga Vertov. Some of her photographs look like film stills, but there is no clear story. Something seems about to happen, but we never find out what.
In 2017, Sarfati presented Oh Man, a series about men walking alone through downtown Los Angeles. For this project, she used a large-format 4×5 camera instead of her usual 35mm camera. The photographs show both the people and the city around them.
In 2017, Sarfati presented Oh Man, a series about men walking alone through downtown Los Angeles. For this project, she used a large-format 4×5 camera instead of her usual 35mm camera. The photographs show both the people and the city around them.
Sarfati was a member of Magnum Photos from 1996 to 2011. She received the Prix Niépce and the ICP Infinity Award in 1996. Her photographs are held in collections including the Centre Pompidou, LACMA, SFMOMA and the Brooklyn Museum.
Lise Sarfati often photographs people who seem to be somewhere between one moment and the next. Her pictures do not give us a complete story. They leave us with a person, a place and a feeling that something has happened - or is about to happen.
Lise Sarfati often photographs people who seem to be somewhere between one moment and the next. Her pictures do not give us a complete story. They leave us with a person, a place and a feeling that something has happened - or is about to happen.