Unexpected Photo Essay on Cortázar, Paris and his readers

An unexpected work for a narrator of unexpected stories. For Argentine writer Julio Cortázar to celebrate the 100th anniversary of his birth

Project visual Unexpected Photo Essay on Cortázar, Paris and his readers
Successful
42
Contributions
19/11/2014
End date
€2.767
Out of €2.500
111 %

Unexpected Photo Essay on Cortázar, Paris and his readers

<p> The story is a series of portraits, taken in Paris, of friends and readers of Cortázar.</p> <p>  </p> <p> The work is <strong>visual, playful and participative.</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> Each of the 70 participants had to:</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>a. </strong>Choose a fragment of the novel <em>Hopscotch</em> that mentions a place in Paris</p> <p> <strong>b. </strong>Have their portrait taken in the chosen site Explain why they chose it</p> <p> <strong>c. </strong>The project seeks to create a hopscotch of images that weaves together the personal stories of participants with Cortázar and Paris.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="1_passarello_nicolas-1408534251" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/113999/1_Passarello_Nicolas-1408534251.jpg"></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Why Cortázar now?</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> Because 2014 is the 100th anniversary of his birth and 30th of his death. I wanted to join the wave of celebrations and carry out a project to discover his readers and the city where he wrote most of his books.</p> <p>  </p> <p> But how could I do an unexpected work about a narrator of unexpected stories? How could I avoid repeating the eternal system of articles, interviews, chronologies, walking through the same old angles?</p> <p>  </p> <p> I tried an answer by basing my narration on three central concepts: <strong>visual, playful and participative.</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>1. </strong>The photo essay had to be a <strong>dialogue between texts and images</strong>.</p> <p> <strong>2. </strong>It had to be <strong>playful</strong> just like a hoptscotch.</p> <p> <strong>3. </strong>And <strong>participative</strong> like <em>Hoptscotch</em> a book that required the participation and complicity of the reader.  It could be read from beginning to end or following a predetermined order of chapters to discover a second story.</p> <p>  </p> <p> The set guidelines were straightforward: the participant had to choose a passage of the book <em>Hopscotch</em> that mentions a place in Paris, and explain his/her preference for this passage and place.</p> <p>  </p> <p> The photos were taking in black and white as wink to the passage of time, to the half a century that passed since the publication of <em>Hopscotch</em>.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Why “unexpected”?</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> I aspire to deliver participants and readers an unexpected experience.</p> <p>  </p> <p> There is not one prearranged narrative sequence but many. They depend on the participants’ decisions and in the readers’ choices.</p> <p>  </p> <p> The story got written as participants chose their passages and places.</p> <p>  </p> <p> The audience will find several possible readings when “playing” with the images.</p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>The photo essay can be experienced in three formats</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>1. </strong>Its online version, here <a href="http://www.hugopassarello.com/rayuela/" target="_blank">www.hugopassarello.com</a><a href="http://www.hugopassarello.com%20" target="_blank"> </a></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong><strong>2. </strong></strong> It also “fits” into a book-object format. Seven numbered envelopes and one stone are kept inside a book shaped cardboard box. The envelopes represent the hopscotch’s squares. Each conceals a photo.  The reader has to display them like a hopscotch and then throw the stone to play and unveil the stories hidden within each envelope.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>3.</strong> The third format is the exhibition. Under each photo hangs a booklet with the participants’ name. The visitor opens it to discover the chosen place, fragment and the participant’s story.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="2_passarello_mosner-1408534291" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/114001/2_Passarello_Mosner-1408534291.jpg"></p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Info on the photo essay</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Dates: </strong>Photos were taken between September 2013 and August 2014.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Participants</strong>: 70 people participated. Among those portrayed are close friends of Cortázar, such as <strong>Julio Silva</strong>, his best friend, who chose to be photographed by the writer’s grave, in Montparnasse cemetery, decorated with a sculpture done by Silva and chosen by Cortázar just before his death.</p> <p>  </p> <p> They also participated: painter <strong>Antonio Seguí</strong>, writers <strong>Martín Kohan</strong>, <strong>Alberto Manguel</strong>, <strong>Pablo De Santis</strong>, <strong>Ana María Shua</strong>, <strong>Tununa Mercado</strong>, el cartoonist <strong>Rep</strong>, among others.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Exhibitions</strong>: The photo essay has been exhibited <a href="http://www.hugopassarello.com/two-pre-exhibitions-paris-photoreportage/">in two libraries in Paris</a>, in the <a href="http://www.hugopassarello.com/pre-photo-exhibition-photo-coverage-cortazar/">Maison de la Culture de Neuilly-Sur-Seine</a>, in the Audiovisual Centre of Rosario (Argentina), in <a href="http://www.hugopassarello.com/summer-exhibit-unexpected-photo-essay-cortazar/">Café el Sur</a>.</p> <p>  </p> <p> In the next few months it will be also be exposed in <a href="http://www.mairie10.paris.fr/">Paris City Hall, of 10eme  arrondissement</a> (September 15th to October 4th) and in the <a href="http://www.casaargentinaenparis.org/">Argentine Student Residency in Paris</a> (November 17th to 28th).</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Press</strong>: The work has been feature in a <a href="http://www.hugopassarello.com/unexpected-photo-essay-cortazar-france-culture/"><em>documentary on Cortázar broadcasted in French national radio France Culture</em></a>.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="9_passarello_maru-1408557976" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/114141/9_Passarello_Maru-1408557976.jpg"></p>

Allocation of funds

<p> Because two big events are coming up:</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>a. </strong>Two exhibitions (everything is ready except the photo printing)</p> <p> <strong>b. </strong>The publication of the an unexpected photobook</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>I will personally engage to cover 50% of the total cost. I am asking you to help me out with the remaining 50% = 2500 €</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="19_passarello_raphael-1408558025" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/114142/19_Passarello_Raphael-1408558025.jpg"></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Exhibitions: </strong></p> <p> Two venues in Paris have awarded the project for exhibition. The Paris City Hall of the 10th arrondissement, that specializes in photography and where Cortázar lived until his death.</p> <p> And the Maison Argentine, where Cortázar lived during his first years in Paris</p> <p>  </p> <p> Both places will cover all related costs for the exhibitions <strong>EXCEPT the frames and prints</strong> (<em>what they cover is insurance, lighting, set-up, communication materials, invitations, reception, music band for the vernissage, etc.</em>).</p> <p>  </p> <p> The cost of a high quality print is expensive:</p> <p>  </p> <p> <em>Paper : Fine Art Baryté Hahnemühle 315g Size : 28 x 42 cm Framining: 28 x 42 cm Aluminum 1mm, Support system</em> <strong>Cost per photo: 38 € including taxes</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>There are 70 photos. Total: 2660 €</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="4_passarello_jerome-1408558044" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/114143/4_Passarello_Jerome-1408558044.jpg"></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Photobook:</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> This is not your ordinary photo book. Following the title of the project it is an <strong>Unexpected Photobook</strong>, a publication that converts the photos into <strong>objects</strong> with which the reader has to <strong>interact</strong> to see the images.</p> <p>  </p> <p> It consists of :</p> <p>  </p> <p> - Seven numbered envelopes and one stone are inside a book shaped cardboard box.</p> <p> - The envelopes represent the hopscotch’s squares.</p> <p> - Each envelope conceals a photo.  </p> <p> - The reader has to display them like a hopscotch and then throw the stone to play and unveil the stories hidden within each envelope.</p> <p>  </p> <p> I am making 96 <strong>Unexpected Photobook </strong>or<strong> Unexpected Boxes</strong>.</p> <p>  </p> <p> The box, made in Italy, cost: 6 € Envelopes: 3 € High quality photo printing (postcard-size): 15 € Other: 2€ Total: 26€ per box (does not include transport if the book needs to be mailed)</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Total for 96 boxes: 2496 €</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Total for exhibitions and photobook: 5156 €</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>I will personally engage to cover 50% of the total cost. I am asking you to help me out with the remaining 50%. So 2500 €</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="Caja_inesperada_008-1409671495" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/116618/Caja_Inesperada_008-1409671495.jpg"></p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p>

Rewards

€15

  • 15 contributions
One photo from the project of your choice High-quality black and white print postcard size. With a personalized message and signed by... me.

Estimated delivery: November 2014

€30

  • 9 contributions
A photo from the project of your choice High-quality black and white print Size: 10cm x 15cm With a personalized message and signed by... me.

Estimated delivery: November 2014

€50

  • 5 contributions
A photo from the project of your choice High-quality black and white print Size: 28cm x 42cm With a personalized message and signed by... me.

Estimated delivery: November 2014

€70

  • 4 contributions
If you donate 70 EUR you get a fine Unexpected Box. Seven numbered envelopes and one stone are kept inside this book shaped cardboard box. The envelopes represent the hopscotch’s squares. Each conceals a photo. The reader has to display them like a hopscotch and then throw the stone to play and unveil the stories hidden within each envelope. Each box is unique.

Estimated delivery: November 2014

€110

  • 3 contributions
You get an Unexpected Box AND A photo from the project of your choice. High-quality black and white print Size: 28cm x 42cm With a personalized message and signed by... me.

Estimated delivery: November 2014

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