Irish Art: Q&As with Photographer Anne-Sophie Gigan

Photographer Anne-Sophie Gigan

Ever since she was a young girl living with her family in South-Eastern France, curiosity, ambition and determination have been Anne-Sophie’s main motivations throughout all aspects of her life.

Anne-Sophie Gigan is a passionate traveller who revels in discovering new cultures, people, countries and traditions. She is a dreamer and an artist who believes that life is a gift. And photography is her way of preserving moments of simplistic but powerful everyday beauty. This French woman, living in Ireland for eight years wants to inspire, motivate and help open your eyes and mind to the world and the people around you. She encourages you to not only think outside the box but step out of it completely.

Most importantly Anne-Sophie –

hopes you enjoy the moments I have captured with my camera and that they give you the courage to be curious, determined and a dreamer like me.

Anne-Sophie recently launched her first book ‘Dublin Dancers & Dreams‘. It features 29 artists, over 100 pictures and more than 20 poems inspired by the photographs, in English and Irish.

To connect with Anne-Sophie visit her website and connect with her via her Instagram Accounts: as.danceproject and anne_so.g

We are delighted to feature Anne-Sophie Gigan here on The Life of Stuff Irish Art Q&A Series and hope you enjoy getting to know a little more about her and her beautifully artistic works.

Q&A’s with Photographer Anne-Sophie Gigan

1. What was your inspiration to become a Photographer?

I have always had a creative heart. In my youth, I was dancing and always been fascinated by arts but once my dad introduced me to photography, I immediately decided to switch my focus. Like dance, photography is an intimate craft because you are taking a split second and transforming it into your own moment in time thanks to the usage of angles, lighting and composition. Photography allows me to keep “dancing” and freeze time, being able to capture a sliver in time, a slight movement in the middle of rhythmic motion is what feeds my soul.

Irish Art - Questions and Answers with Photographer Anne-Sophie Gigan - Luas

Irish Art - Questions and Answers with Photographer Anne-Sophie Gigan - Dublin Bus

Irish Art - Questions and Answers with Photographer Anne-Sophie Gigan - Temple Bar

2. How did you ‘officially’ become a Photographer?

My journey as a photographer started with the first camera my grandfather offered me in 1998, before a family trip in Turkey when I was 10 years old. But it wasn’t until 2014 that it officially became a real passion, soon after my move to Ireland and my travels around Asia.

I became passionate about showing others the beauty I perceived. Especially those who do not have the opportunity to experience the same. I realised my passion for people and movement, specifically the fascinating way they express emotions makes me tick. It intrigues me and inspires me to reflect it through my lens. To enable them to feel the same, to see the same, to open their minds. Find more of my travel pictures on @anne_so.g and dance photography @as.danceproject.

3. Where do you take creative inspiration from for your work?

I enjoy being a part of a creative community that allows me to meet interesting artists from different backgrounds and cultures so I can continue to grow in my art. For example, the Dublin Camera Club in Dublin helps me to meet different styles of photographers. I love reading magazines such as National Geographic that help me to be inspired by photographers around the world.

Visiting modern art or painting museums also opens my mind to different styles of art. Instagram is also a huge source of inspiration and community to meet and exchange with photographers arounds the world.

4. What’s the wackiest request you’ve had to date for commission work?

Not really a “wacky ” request but one to be remembered. It was back in 2018 during the snowstorm we had in Dublin, two ballerinas contacted me for a photoshoot in the snow. It turned out to be the most freezing photoshoot for the dancers but also for me. Even if the ballerinas can’t use their pointe shoes anymore the results were stunning.

5. Where would you love to exhibit your work – the dream?

I am a dreamer and I have so many dreams but being able to exhibit in a Photography Gallery in Dublin (Gallery of Photography Ireland) …

Irish Art - Questions and Answers with Photographer Anne-Sophie Gigan - Inspire Gallery exhibition 2019 — Inspire Gallery exhibition 2019

… in Paris (Maison Européenne de la Photographie) or New York (International Center of Photography Museum) is my dream – to be able to share and inspire more people.

Irish Art - Questions and Answers with Photographer Anne-Sophie Gigan - Alliance Francaise exhibition 2019 — Alliance Francaise exhibition 2019

6. What are you working on now? Any exhibitions coming up?

2020 was not an easy year but the lockdown time helped me to develop my beautiful book “Dublin dancers & Dream”. If you had told me five years ago that l would publish a book, l wouldn’t have believed you, but here we are, and what an incredible journey it was.

I started this “Dublin Dancers & Dreams” project in 2016. I intended to picture the cultural richness and mixture that Dublin offers by welcoming cultures beyond its borders. The traditionalism of the dances and the modernity of the city blend in a harmonious contrast, allowing foreign cultures to feel free to represent their being in a land that welcomed them with open arms.

I hope in the near future to plan new exhibitions and a proper launch of ‘Dublin Dancers & Dreams’ with a dance show similar to what we did in 2019 in the Alliance Francaise, Inspire Gallery and Dublin Arts Club.

All featured photography by: Anne-Sophie Gigan.

You can buy Anne-Sophie’s limited edition book HERE with 10% of every book sale donated Clowns Without Borders.

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