Romain Thiery is a professional photographer specialized in abandoned heritage. His work has been constantly evolving and has been exhibited several times nationally and internationally. The places he is looking for have to be at the crossroads of two artistic worlds: music and photography. Roman is travelling all around Europe to find abandoned pianos (Requiem pour pianos).
Roman, where do you get your inspiration?
I discovered photography more professionally during my long trips to Asia. I traveled several countries, alone, in search of a light, an architecture, an atmosphere that I wanted to make intact.
When I returned, in the footsteps of my mother, who had already begun to catalog the abandoned heritage of my native region, I became passionate about abandoned architecture and heritage photography. Starting by photographing ruins, little by little, I improved myself in this area, until becoming a professional in 2009. One day, during an exploration, I felt on a forgotten piano. It was a revelation, my 2 passions were gathered in one and the same place. Since that day, I keep travelling on a large part of Europe, still looking for this instrument in abandoned places.
Which is the reletioship and influence beetween your cultural backgorund (country, studies, etc.) and your artworks?
I study piano for 15 years in a musical school in France and photography as self-educated. Naturally, I knew that my artistic life would testify to my dual attachement to music and photography.
What are you much focused in?
There is a scene that particulary marked me. In a mansion’s room, in its center, lies a grand piano. There is no other objects, everything has been vandalised. The fireplace was tattered, looted, its marble vanished. And there, I understood that everything is carried away except the piano, as if, the idea of sacrilege was also among the vandals. We don’t destroy a piano, we contemplate it. This scene was a click for me, from where I wanted to work on my “requiem pour pianos” series.
Have you encountered any difficulties when you first started your art/freelance career?
Yes of course, and still today. I think the beginning is not so easy. We have to find a way to show our artworks and know what people are thinking about. I will never imagine that the work of an artist was also a big commercial work. We have to know how to live with your artworks, and know how to renew ourselves all the time.
Are you currently work on new projects?
Yes, since more than one year I work on a new project still focusing on piano and heritage but with a different way. I can’t tell you more about it right now but I will let you know soon.
“Since that day, I keep travelling on a large part of Europe, still looking for this instrument in abandoned places“
“In a mansion’s room, in its center, lies a grand piano. There is no other objects, everything has been vandalised. The fireplace was tattered, looted, its marble vanished. And there, I understood that everything is carried away except the piano, as if, the idea of sacrilege was also among the vandals. We don’t destroy a piano, we contemplate it“
“I will never imagine that the work of an artist was also a big commercial work“
Artist Website > www.romainthiery.fr
Instagram > @romainthiery