Denis Darzacq – La Chute

Denis Darzacq – La Chute 2005 – 2006 French photographer Denis Darzacq wanted to respond to the ignored youth in suburban housing after the 2005 riots in France. In 2006 he dreamt up ‘La Chute,’ meaning The Fall, being partly inspired by the 9/11 falling people. Darzacq visited hip-hop, dance and break dance shows around Paris to find his subjects, asking them to collaborate with him and recreate a move he had photographed them doing in the show, in a different location for his project. His images were very successful, the audience didn’t know how these people were in these positions, this was the photographers intention, he wanted his work to be open to interpretation. Taken in an urban area not specific of any arrondissement in Paris, location in France nor of any other country, Darzacq wanted his images to be relatable to everyone. The ground floor windows, doors and blinds are boarded up and closed, the artist responded by saying that crime exits in Paris, no one on a ground floor flat in the capital had an open window, everyone is scared of each other. (The Guardian March24th 2007). This significance of closed blinds and doors also had meaning to Darzacq, he questioned; who would see these people fall? A child fall? Will anyone notice them and care? There are references to the French film La Haine, watching it you learn the character Hubert repeatedly saying ‘Heard about the guy who fell off a skyscraper? On his way down past each floor, he kept saying to reassure himself: So far so good... so far so good... so far so good. How you fall doesn't matter. It's how you land!’ Shot a moment before landing Darzacq’s technique created tension, putting the forgotten youth back in the viewers minds.