MORE ABOUT CHRISTOPHE MOURTHE
Christophe Mourthé is a visionary who quickly felt that social trends in the 1980s were constantly changing. He rapidly became a forerunner of the ‘fetishist’ school, which was later incorporated by the world of advertising. Christophe Mourthé’s fetishism became a true style, preceding a fashion trend which haute couture would later appropriate. His photos are rooted both in the tumultuous period of freedom of the 1970s and the period of ‘safe sex’, which would abruptly halt the enthusiasm of that decade. Other ways of experiencing love developed, and one of those was fetishism. Christophe Mourthé belonged to the ‘Palace’ generation, just like Mugler, Gaultier, Chantal Thomass, Madonna, Nina Hagen, Blondie, Lou Boutin, etc, headed by the spiritual father Fabrice Emaer.
The famous ‘Casanovas’, characters from a decadent 18th century, pictured in the half-light of Venetian palaces, were the result of a collaboration in 1983 with the brilliant make-up artist and hairdresser Denis Menendez. The ‘Casanovas’ were exhibited all over the world and acknowledged as photographic masterpieces in a daring style.
His services were also called upon by the fashion industry. He worked with top magazines (Playboy, Newlook – at 22 years old, he was one of the top photographers for magazines such as Penthouse, Lui, Vogue, Max etc.), photographing the trendiest models while letting himself be guided by the rhythm of images from his dreams.
Then there were assignments from the advertising world (Dim, Rosy, etc.), the big press agencies (Stills, Sipa, Sygma, etc.) and record companies (covers, posters, etc.).
Through the quality of his work, Christophe Mourthé took fetishism out of its x-rated context in 1991, long before haute couture appropriated it. In 1993, an exhibition was organised in Paris and the album ‘Phyléa’ came out; this book was considered to be the book of the year in Europe. Mourthé recreated the world of erotic comic strips in photography. Fetishism was made available to the general public. It was shown and exhibited. The press was unanimous. ‘Fetish dream’ was published in Japan in 1994. That same year, Mourthé’s work was exhibited in Los Angeles and he published the book ‘Marlčne Love’ in France. Marlčne, a 90s TV pin-up was subsequently immortalised as the star of the phantasma. In 1998 he started working with Boutique Minuit, the Mecca of the fetishist scene in Brussels. He published a new book dedicated to this world, as well as a 3D CD-ROM.
The publisher ‘Editions de la Musardine’ released ‘Scandal’, featuring photos of all the models which had inspired the artist in the past 20 years.
Under the guidance of Maître Cornette de Saint Cyr, auctioneer and prominent European expert in contemporary art, about one hundred of Christophe Mourthé’s photographic works were auctioned in 2002 at the Lutétia hotel in Paris.
By putting together the exhibition in the Cultuurcentrum (Cultural Centre), Christophe Mourthé finally seals the pact he made with Belgium to stop in Knokke-Heist at some point, to experience the light there, breathe in the spring wind and to caress the sea air. A promise he made to himself 20 years ago during an amorous adventure …
Christophe Mourthé is a visionary who quickly felt that social trends in the 1980s were constantly changing. He rapidly became a forerunner of the ‘fetishist’ school, which was later incorporated by the world of advertising. Christophe Mourthé’s fetishism became a true style, preceding a fashion trend which haute couture would later appropriate. His photos are rooted both in the tumultuous period of freedom of the 1970s and the period of ‘safe sex’, which would abruptly halt the enthusiasm of that decade. Other ways of experiencing love developed, and one of those was fetishism. Christophe Mourthé belonged to the ‘Palace’ generation, just like Mugler, Gaultier, Chantal Thomass, Madonna, Nina Hagen, Blondie, Lou Boutin, etc, headed by the spiritual father Fabrice Emaer.
The famous ‘Casanovas’, characters from a decadent 18th century, pictured in the half-light of Venetian palaces, were the result of a collaboration in 1983 with the brilliant make-up artist and hairdresser Denis Menendez. The ‘Casanovas’ were exhibited all over the world and acknowledged as photographic masterpieces in a daring style.
His services were also called upon by the fashion industry. He worked with top magazines (Playboy, Newlook – at 22 years old, he was one of the top photographers for magazines such as Penthouse, Lui, Vogue, Max etc.), photographing the trendiest models while letting himself be guided by the rhythm of images from his dreams.
Then there were assignments from the advertising world (Dim, Rosy, etc.), the big press agencies (Stills, Sipa, Sygma, etc.) and record companies (covers, posters, etc.).
Through the quality of his work, Christophe Mourthé took fetishism out of its x-rated context in 1991, long before haute couture appropriated it. In 1993, an exhibition was organised in Paris and the album ‘Phyléa’ came out; this book was considered to be the book of the year in Europe. Mourthé recreated the world of erotic comic strips in photography. Fetishism was made available to the general public. It was shown and exhibited. The press was unanimous. ‘Fetish dream’ was published in Japan in 1994. That same year, Mourthé’s work was exhibited in Los Angeles and he published the book ‘Marlčne Love’ in France. Marlčne, a 90s TV pin-up was subsequently immortalised as the star of the phantasma. In 1998 he started working with Boutique Minuit, the Mecca of the fetishist scene in Brussels. He published a new book dedicated to this world, as well as a 3D CD-ROM.
The publisher ‘Editions de la Musardine’ released ‘Scandal’, featuring photos of all the models which had inspired the artist in the past 20 years.
Under the guidance of Maître Cornette de Saint Cyr, auctioneer and prominent European expert in contemporary art, about one hundred of Christophe Mourthé’s photographic works were auctioned in 2002 at the Lutétia hotel in Paris.
By putting together the exhibition in the Cultuurcentrum (Cultural Centre), Christophe Mourthé finally seals the pact he made with Belgium to stop in Knokke-Heist at some point, to experience the light there, breathe in the spring wind and to caress the sea air. A promise he made to himself 20 years ago during an amorous adventure …
