Marlborough Monaco

'[…] Today, you can tell if a drawing, painting or photograph is by Titouan Lamazou by looking at it. Not just from its stylistic or textual features. But because each of his works emanates something that touches us in our deepermost beings. An unparalleled portraitist, Lamazou captures, with a few sketch lines, the architecture of a face or else as a trait of character. He excels in conveying a range of subtle variations. Just look at the exquisite drawing that brings out the playful nonchalance of Daisy from California or the one showing the classy elegance of romantic Rachel from North Kivu. Tinting and shading skilfully contrast dark and light to enhance the haughty grace of Birgül from Europe, to structure the square-jawed face and solid body of Khadi from Mauritania, or to transpose the worried gaze of the young Culibali Fatimata from Burkina Faso.

And when he photographs the women who cross his path in their everyday universe, Lamazou puts together visually striking compositions that reflect a temperament, a history, a country. A Pop Art kitchen and lurid colours communicate the bubbly character of Nelida from Brazil. A rounded balcony against a blue sky magnify the curves of the tattooed back of Lori from America. A rickety staircase and washed-out green walls highlight the serenity of Nastia from Siberia. Above all, long, patient observation of his models is a ritual for Titouan Lamazou. This is how he succeeds in capturing the irreducibility of a being, her aura, her inner strength, the way in which she lights up the present and occupies space… All these elements that make each of us unique and irreplaceable. […]'

Elizabeth Couturier, catalogue for the Titouan Lamazou exhibition at Marlborough Monaco