Photomanipulation nominee

Inspired by the French photographer Gilbert Garcin for his self-portraits where he stages himself in reduced size and by the Spanish photographer Chema Madoz for his diversions of everyday objects, I began a series of self-portraits in color where I stage myself around objects present at home. I appear in reduced size compared to my environment, diverting objects from their primary function to produce humorous photos. This series only aims to provoke a smile, a laugh in these gloomy times. As Charlie Chaplin said: "To laugh is to preserve oneself"!

Observing, feeling and then capturing atmospheres, moments of life and emotions and immortalizing them by adding one's own sensitivity is how photography became Christian Mercier's passion.

CIO by profession and member of photo clubs since 2010, he follows a 5-day photographic internship in Arles in July 2016 with Françoise Huguier.

At the age of 49, Christian Mercier has presented his work at various exhibitions and festivals:
· 2015: series "Reflections of life" at the Château de la Buzine in Marseille as part of the exhibition "Opening the field: Marseille, field of photographers"
· 2015: series "Reflections of life" as part of Phot'Aix 2015
· 2020: "Monument'eau" series as part of Phot'Aix 2020
· 2021: "Minimoi" series as part of Phot'Aix 2021
· 2021: "Minimoi" series as part of the Fréjus Surrealist Photography Festival where it wins the prize for photography of the year
· 2021: publication of a page of his series "Minimoi" in the magazine "France Photographie" of April on the theme of "emerging photography"
· 2021: publication of his series "Minimoi" in the magazine "The eye of Photography" on November 27