Olivier Robert: Lakes, from Léman to Biwa | MONOVISIONS

MonoVisions Black & White Photo Contest 2025

This work started on the shores of the Lake Geneva in Switzerland and in France, as I arrived in this region in 1995 and where I still live. My approach consists in using the ‘unintentional aesthetic’ of the man-made objects or structures left alongside the lakes to reveal a personal appreciation of the way these objects and the landscapes answer each other. It also depicts my interrogation about the influence of these man-made objects on the perception we have of the landscape or the way they affect it. Moreover, once they are out of use, these constructions are rarely dismantled but rather abandoned. They become parts of the landscape and most don’t pay attention to them anymore. We get use to get them in the view. Somehow, these structures pertain to the waterscapes and sceneries. This research has pushed me into visiting many lakes in several countries including Japan where I pursue this work on the Lake Biwa for many years.

Olivier Robert is a professional photographer sharing his life between Europe and Japan. His approach is based on a minimalist expression for more than 25 years. Initiated very early to photography and dark room process, he got his first camera at the age of 15. At that time, he also discovered Asia. This intense experience has drastically influenced his way of life and his vision of the world. From then on, photography, traditional ink-painting and Asian philosophy have been closely linked.

Website: www.olivierrobert.net

‘Lakes, from Léman to Biwa’ was the Black & White Fine Art Series of the Year 2nd place Winner in the MonoVisions Photography Awards 2017