Exhibitions

Wildlife Portrait

Madrid, Spain

Intimate animal souls revealed through the lens of classical portraiture and the stark mystery of black-and-white film.

Wildlife Portrait

Meet the artist

Nine François

The Movement

Contemporary photography

ArtLovers Tip

Look closely at the edges of the larger prints; the use of the wide-angle lens creates a subtle, immersive distortion that makes you feel as though you are standing within the animal's personal space.

Exhibition Highlights - What you'll see

Nine François challenges the distance of traditional wildlife photography, bringing the viewer into an uncomfortably close encounter with the natural world. By utilizing a medium-format analog camera and a wide-angle lens—tools typically reserved for the studio—she elevates animals to the status of classical subjects. Her Animalia series is not merely a record of species, but a collection of personalities, rendered with a weight and dignity that echoes the human portraits of Richard Avedon.

You're watching a series of stark, high-contrast images where the boundaries between observer and observed dissolve. In the quiet atmosphere of Havet Gallery, these creatures emerge from minimalist backgrounds, their scales, feathers, and gazes amplified by the grain of traditional film. The scale is imposing, forcing a silent negotiation between the viewer and the silent power of a lynx or an eagle, captured in the suspenseful silver-halide tones of the darkroom.

Worth the trip

  • Analog Craft: Experience the rare texture of hand-developed black-and-white prints, a tactile departure from the digital saturation of modern wildlife imagery.
  • PhotoEspaña OFF: Access a curated corner of Madrid’s premier photography festival, exploring the intimate dialogue between contemporary art and ecological conservation.
  • Avedon’s Influence: See how the aesthetic of high-fashion portraiture can be translated to the wild, turning predators and prey into iconic, monumental figures.

How to experience it

Approach each print slowly, allowing the gaze of the animal to meet yours before reading the labels. The exhibition is best enjoyed during the mid-afternoon when the Madrid sun is at its peak, providing a cool, monochromatic refuge inside the gallery. Afterward, take a walk through the nearby streets of the city center to reflect on the sudden, silent connection you've shared with creatures usually found worlds away from the urban bustle.

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