Gallery
BIoGRAPHY
Breton Guy Le Querrec, born May 12th, 1941 in Paris, began to take photographs at the age of 14. He bought his first Leica IIIG from the salary he had earned working at an insurance company. At the age of 26, he took his first step to become a professional photographer, having been hired by Paris-based advertising agency Atelier 3. From 1969, he regularly travelled francophone sub-Saharan Africa and the Maghrib for the periodical Jeune Afrique.
1971 saw Le Querrec join the Vu agency. He co-founded the Viva agency the following year but he would leave Viva in 1975. At that time, he produced series such as “Families in France” (1973), “Portugal and the Carnation Revolution” (1974-75) and “The French on Holidays” (1976).
Le Querrec joined Magnum Photos in 1976 and was elected as a full member in 1977. His ensuing contributions included “Parisian Concert Mayol” (1979) and “On the Trail to Wounded Knee: The Big Foot Memorial Ride” (1990) as well as long-term engagements in China (1984-1989) and in countries throughout Africa (1984-1998).
Multiple visits at the Elysée Palace between 1977 and 1985, which took place in cooperation with sculptor Daniel Druet, resulted in late former French president Mitterand being portrayed by Le Querrec. One shot originating from this portrait sitting was included in the 1999 selection “The 100 most important photos of the century” and Le Querrec was awarded the Grand Prix de la Ville de Paris.
Music, particularly Jazz, is one of the artist’s main sources of inspiration, both in life and in his work. This passion led him to create two performances at the renowned photography festival Les Rencontres d’Arles: “De l’eau dans le jazz” and “Jazz comme une image”. The latter was designed by the artist as a slideshow of his photos, projected on a giant screen to act as a score for improvisational music sessions. It was later exhibited in several metro stations in Paris during the five-week “Banlieues Bleues” jazz festival.
Apart from his profession as a photographer, Le Querrec has been holding lectures at educational institutions in France and abroad, in countries that include Switzerland, Senegal, Mongolia, England and Canada.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2021 Sur la piste de Big Foot, Librairie des Alpes, Paris
2019 Jazz de J à ZZ, Château Palmer, Margaux, France
2018 Guy Le Querrec, Conteur d’images, Champs Libres, Rennes, France
2016 Guy Le Querrec en Bretagne, Brest; Lannion; Lorient, France
2014 Enfants du Pays Lobi, Marseille
2013 Jazz de J à ZZ, Turin, Italy
2012 Jazz de J à ZZ, Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland
2012 Jazz, jour et nuit / Miles, Bruissin, France
2012 L’oeil de l’Eléphant, Royal Monceau, Paris
2012 View York–Nine Perceptions, KSH, Freiburg, Germany
2011 Miles Davis, Le Carré d’Art, Nîmes, France
2011 Jazz, jour et nuit, Le CAP, Brest, France
2011 Jazz de J à ZZ, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
2011 View York–Nine Perceptions, DAI, Tübingen, Germany; CLAIRbyKahn, Munich
2010 Jazz Images, Skoda Jazz Festival, Belgium
2009 Jazz de J à ZZ, Corigliano Calabro Fotografia, Italy
2009 Le Siècle du jazz, Italy; Musée de Quai Branly, France, Spain
2008 Biennale de la Photographie, Moscow
2006 Les Rencontres d’Arles, France
2005 Temps de poses, Musée du Septennat, Château-Chinon, France
2005 Base sous-marine, Bordeaux, France
2003 Rencontres internationales de jazz, Nevers, France
2002 Centro de la Imagen, Braga, Portugal
2002 Hermès, New York City
2001 Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin
2000 International Jazz Festival, Saalfelden, Austria
1999 Hillside Forum Daikanyama, Tokyo
1997 Maison Robert Doisneau, Gentilly, France
1996 Maison de la Culture d’Amiens, France
1993 Espace photographique de Paris
1991 Visa pour l’image, Perpignan, France
1991 French Cultural Centers in Germany and Eastern Europe
1990 Rencontres Internationales de la Photographie In Port Expos, Le Port, Réunion
1978 Galerie municipale du Château d’eau de Toulouse, France
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
2011 View York–Nine Perceptions, Kerber Verlag, Bielefeld
2009 Le Siècle du jazz, Skira Flammarion
2009 Géométrie de l’instant, Créaphis, Paris
2006 D’Jazz à Nevers – chemins croisés, l’Armançon
2005 Le Chronatoscaphe, Nato
2005 African Flashback, Label Bleu
2002 Minneapolis We Insist, Universal Jazz
2001 Minneapolis, Universal Jazz
2001 Jazz Light and Day, Motta
2000 Sur la piste de Big Foot, Textuel
1999 Suite Africaine/ Carnet de Routes, Label Bleu
1997 François Mitterrand, des temps de poses à l’Elysée, Marval
1996 Jazz de J à ZZ, Marval
1995 Carnet de routes, Label Bleu
1994 Portraits de mots, Alphagram/Bordas
1993 Jazz comme une image, Banlieues Bleues, Scandéditions
1991 Musicales, Trois Cailloux, Amiens
1988 Tête à tête, Daniel Druet sculpteur, Carrère
1979 Portugal 1974-1975. Regards sur une tentative de pouvoir populaire, Hier et demain
1977 Quelque part, Contrejour