Camille Levert
WORKS
Neons
The neon signs are disappearing from Hong Kong streets, and they will soon no longer diffuse the iconic and cinematographic radiance that makes Hong Kong night's glowing so special. More than just simple advertising messages, they are often adorned with artistic characters and graphics that are first hand-drawn on a paper. As a matter of fact, Hong Kong traditional neon signs are entirely handmade, and require particular skills that will be unfortunately lost in the modernization of the city. Camille Levert's three dimensional embroidered artwork is a tribute to the iconic Hong Kong neon signs, the handmade craftsmanship, and the past Hong Kong culture and identity.
Corner Houses
“Corner houses are at the crossroads of the major thoroughfares and arteries of Hong Kong. They are witnesses to the confluence of the dense flow of the town and remain pillars of the past. Laundry, AC, opened windows seem like embroideries in their pale colors. I have such a pleasure in collecting, cutting and preserving those images of a disappearing reality. Hong Kong is a continually developing city. It reaches a goal. It crosses times, instead of letting time cross it. It leaves behind former architectures which do not fit its ambitions any more. These buildings have a limited life span. Their peculiar charm, their histories anchored in memories inspire my work.”
- Camille Levert
Staircases
In the old buildings, staircases directly open onto the street. The eye can follow their path, we can imagine other lives up there. A world of possible lives… But we will not climb up. They remain secret. Then we continue our walk and forget… Camille Levert’s series invites our imagination in those so banal – so extraordinary staircases. Her technique enhances the mystery: it is a faithful and subtle metamorphosis of the everyday architecture. The staircases catches the attention : the building, the men, the town disappear. Our fantasy is free to recreate its own projection.
Theatre: Today Next Change
As are the corner houses, theatres are also witnesses to the past. New buildings are taking their places. Some have already been destroyed and Camille Levert’s artworks are the vibrant revival of their prestigious story.
VIDEOS
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Camille Levert was born in France in 1974. She is a photographer and collage artist. She lives in Hong Hong since 2015.
After studying foreign languages (English and Chinese, LVQ level 5) and new technologies, Camille worked 12 years in public relations (food & beverage marketing), including 4 years in Beijing. In January 2009, she left the marketing world and settled as a full-time freelance photographer, and started to work on her first collage pieces.
Since 2016 Camille has fully integrated the three-dimensional photocollage technic into her artistic work, which allows her to push the boundaries of photography and explore new fields such as time layers and distortion of reality.
Exhibitions
Solo
2021 A photographic Journal, Obellery, PMQ, Hong Kong
Handmade in Hong Kong with Care, Campo Marzio, Tai Kwun, Hong Kong
2019 Stairs and Neon Signage, Chez Trente, Hong Kong
2018 Layers of Hong Kong, Gallery Rouge Ephémère, Hong Kong
Group
2023 Volumes, group exhibition, K+Y gallery, Paris
2021 Mixed Colours: Rebirth, Children of the Mekong Exhibition, The Pulse, Hong Kong
2020 Square Prints, The Hong Kong Arts Collective, Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Arts Collective Group Exhibition, The Hong Kong Arts Collective, T.H.E Design, Shatin Industrial Centre, Hong Kong
2019 A Christmas Exhibition, The Hong Kong Arts Collective, Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Arts Collective Exhibition, The Hong Kong Arts Collective, The Great Room, One Taikoo Place, Hong Kong
Home Grown, The Hong Kong Arts Collective, The Nate, Hong Kong
2017 Life By Water Arts Festival, Cheung Chau Wave, Hong Kong
Fairs
2023 Hamburg Affordable Art Fair with Envie d'Art gallery
2023 London Affordable Art Fair with Envie d'Art gallery
2023 Hong Kong Affordable Art Fair with La Galerie 18392022 Art Central Hong Kong with La Galerie 1839
2021 Affordable Art Fair, The Hong Kong Arts Collective, Hong Kong
2019 Affordable Art Fair, Gallery Rouge Ephémère, Hong Kong
2018 Affordable Art Fair, Gallery Rouge Ephémère, Hong Kong