INYEON 13
Trixie Lhomme
by Martial Lenoir
for MARLEY
THREAD OF DESTINY
Martial Lenoir has been a photographer for MARLEY since the very beginning. His work is masterful, exciting and exceptional in the best possible way. Together with his muse, friend and creative partner Trixie Lhomme, he has now published a book that explores new and interesting avenues of photography and is truly unique.
We spoke to both of them about this and that and, of course, about their new book project.
Teddy Marks
How did you first started working together, and what has kept your collaboration going for so long?
(Martial) We started working together 13 years ago (hence the title of the book). At the time, I was working on my second book ‘Les reflets du désordre’. Trixie came to me from Lille. I suspect that some people had told her about me. We took some pictures that are among the most beautiful in the series. Trixie was a newcomer, but she already had enormous potential and an incredible timeless photogenic quality. This was recognised by everyone and she quickly established herself in the profession. She has always had her own world and yet an amazing ability to adapt to any project.
(Trixie) I met Martial in early 2013, when I was a ‘baby model’ with very few photo shoots under my belt. Marc Dubord, a photographer in my region, in the north of France, had given me some names of well-known photographers. I looked through his short list and immediately liked Martial's work! It was an honour for me to make my debut in such good hands. I fell in love with his images, but also with the character and the person! The love, the friendship and the pleasure of the sessions made our collaboration last! The inyeon between us!
How has your collaboration evolved over the past 13 years, and what have you learned from working together for so long?
(Martial) As we say in the preface to the book, we are 2 very free spirits, and sometimes in our journeys, we have drifted apart for a while, only to find each other again. At very different times. But always with the desire to create a world together. Trixie, with her freedom and her ability to listen, has often helped me to move forward with ideas where I was stuck.
(Trixie) Different series, different desires, changing locations, the desire to create, to exchange, to propose, to dare on both sides have allowed a lot of freedom whether in front of or behind the camera. It's made the last few years of photography quite enjoyable. No shooting routine. I've learnt to let go and be proactive.
Your book focuses on a single model, Trixie. What inspired you personally to publish a whole book just with Trixie?
(Martial) We decided never to have children together. So this book is a bit like our baby....
Trixie) I'll answer that question by turning it on its head! Why publish this book with just one photographer! Because better than a wedding, or a baby? A book?! I put my trust in Martial, who suggested this project. It was a daring but successful gamble! He convinced me to try it! One photographer, one model. An amazing duo! And it works! The proof!
What narrative are you conveying with this collection of images?
(Martial) Freedom of tone, the right to nudity and independence. The right to live outside the box. Our shared sense of aesthetics. But above all, mutual respect between 2 people who don't belong to each other but complement each other.
(Trixie) A breath of life, freedom, love, confidence and folly. Assuming your femininity. It's an ode to beauty in all its forms. All women are beautiful if they are free in their minds. Let's free ourselves from dictates! Let's take a deep breath! Let us all shine! Let's be alive. The aestheticism of Martial's images conveys all this! That's how we complete ourselves.
The decision to publish a book is a significant commitment. What prompted you to choose this format for showcasing your work, and what impact do you hope it will have on viewers?
(Martial) There is no pretence in the act of writing a book together, and no desire to please or displease anyone. It's a gift we give each other. And if the public likes it, that's a plus.
(Trixie) It's always better to see the images shot than behind our screens! A memory in the hands that can disturb for a long time. I love books and their presence. I hope to create emotion, joy and pleasure by leafing through this book and having it enthroned somewhere on a bookshelf or elsewhere. I hope that the audience will join in with us. For those who have been with us all these years and for those who are just discovering us!
Was there a particular image in the book that was especially challenging to create, either technically or emotionally?
(Martial) Technically, the series in the bubble. But otherwise, for the emotions, it's Trixie who gives them, I just capture them. So it's up to her to respond.
(Trixie) Perhaps the first session for the series of reflections of disorder. Long make-up and hair preparations and a long posing session! I wasn't used to not fidgeting during a session. Every detail counted. I felt a bit “puppeteered”. I still have that memory in my head and I can clearly see how our first session went. I gave myself over to the clicks. And it was beautiful.
What's the funniest thing that happened behind the scenes during the shoot?
(Martial) Generally, we're very concentrated during sessions, but only if we're in a good mood. But for the last series, we absolutely wanted to do one on the beach, and last December we still hadn't done one. The book was due to be finished in January. We went to Grandville (Normandy), it was 2 degrees.... People passing by thought we were crazy. We shot even faster than usual.
(Trixie) The first thing that comes to mind is the bubble, a half sphere filled with water and suspended from a chain, making the bubble spin! Well, it wasn't easy at all to stand in it! I was sliding all over the walls. It was great fun! We had a lot of laughs during those sessions. It also made for some great photographic accidents 🙂
When you announced the new book via crowdfunding, did you get any crazy fan requests about which photos your fans would like to see in the book?
(Martial) Personally, I rarely took into account the opinions of people who followed me, or even those close to me. If I did, I wouldn't really be able to create. So for this book, we chose the images together, without taking any comments into account. Except perhaps our graphic designer Laure, who did a magnificent job. And we trusted her completely.
(Trixie) Yes, indeed! Very much so! But above all we created this book with our own desires in mind. Laure, our graphic designer, helped us make certain choices! Thank you to her for her involvement in this project.
What's the most unexpected thing you've learned about each other during the shoot and collaboration process?
(Martial) With Trixie, the unexpected is everyday life. Nothing ever goes as planned, and something surprising almost always comes out of it. I think that's what I learnt most from her. To let go, to trust the model to bring meaning to your image.
(Trixie) Letting go!
If you could go back in time and give your younger selves some advice about working together, what would it be?
(Martial) Working, making images, practising, failing, starting again. Trusting yourself and trusting others. But above all, and here I insist strongly, respect your models.
(Trixie) If I had to give a few TIPS to models starting out, I'd say choose your photographers carefully (the basics), choose your own world, be unique, communicate, let go (yes, again) and above all allow yourself a great deal of freedom with no barriers! To dare to create! Have fun during the session!
Now that the book is published, what new directions are you interested in exploring in your future work, and how might this project influence your artistic journey?
(Martial) It's still too early to really know. Each time it takes me a while to find a real new line. But the pleasure is in the research and the experience. As I'm also starting out in a new studio (the green gallery), that's going to be a lot of new things all at once.
(Trixie) We'll see what happens next together, because nothing is dramatised during our sessions! We're going to continue working together in the same way! We hope to make some more great images together! We hope to surprise you again!
If you could sum up your creative partnership in three words, what would they be?
(Martial) Bubbling, exciting, thrilling.
(Trixie) Free, vital and strong.
NEW BOOK
MARTIAL LENOIR & TRIXIE LHOMME
INYEON 13
This new book from Martial Lenoir and Trixie Lhomme your bookshelf is waiting for!
Inyeon: The Thread of Destiny.
In South Korea, the word inyeon (인연) refers to the bond between two people and the emotional connection between them.
The word refers to a bond, a meaningful connection between two people whose paths eventually cross one day or another.
In South Korea, we say that each person is the sum of his or her past and future encounters.
These encounters can be major, as with your partner, or insignificant, like someone you bump into in the street.
They are all a matter of destiny, and play a role in our lives.
PRINTS WANTED?
Are you looking for high class prints from this Editorial?
Get in touch with us here:
STAY UPDATED AND DON’T MISS OUR BEAUTIFUL ART
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
Register with your e-mail address to receive the latest news about new exclusive MARLEY publications, new offers from our MARLEY shop and get an exclusive peek into our content from our MARLEY Members area.