Nicolas Claris  ·  Romain Claris

NOIRS

10th International Multihull Boat Show
La Grande Motte — April 24–28, 2019

Photo © Nicolas Claris — All rights reserved

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Presentation

NOIRS

Where NOIRS honours light and colours…
NOIRS was first presented from June 20 to September 9, 2018 in the art gallery of the Relais & Châteaux Saint-James in Bouliac.
In 2019 we were particularly pleased to show the exhibition from April 24 to 28 during the International Multihull Boat Show.

Black is the origin. With the appearance of light different BLACKS are revealed, multiple, sensitive, fragile but with such presence! BLACKS that are born from the deprivation of light, reflections of non-reflections, a kind of anti-light that makes us discover colours, lights and materials. They emphasise, reveal and make us aware of close richness. Magical, simple, everyday.

As a starting point, we took existing materials that are spatially-friendly to the imagination. One could be tempted to recognise skins, minerals, cellars, roads, mountains, water, sea, stars, coal, technical fabrics, bolt, a ship's bow or a dancer. But does one really need these eclectic identifications? These are just starting points, initialisations, suspensions of time, like frozen frames masterfully highlighted by the BLACKS…
By associating the imaginary and the real, dreams and origins are merging.
We keep playing, dreaming, looking even further… with our desire of drilling holes for light.

BLACKS
Black does not mean sad! It is beautiful because by some kind of self-sacrifice, it allows us to perceive, to observe and to discover the light and the colours, therefore the matter.

In our culture, the relationship between BLACKS and colour is not as binary as one could be tempted to think. If the absolute black absorbs all the wavelengths, it would be characterised by an absence of colour but the reality is very different, much more surprising!

Very rarely pure, black is linked to colours. It reveals micro-details, trends, influences, so that each point shining more or less makes us apprehend one or more isolated or dominant colours, because it leans on the material, accomplice of the light. As such, black is not unique, it is fundamentally multiple.

But this multiplicity remains mysterious: one speaks easily of "deep black" and curiously never of "light black": if it is deep, could black not also be revealing?

Such an incursion into the worlds of BLACKS is a fun quest, sometimes complicated but fascinating… To bring out the light and the colours from the black, it is necessary to be attentive, curious, to stir preconceived ideas and to question oneself.
Before starting our actual work, it is essential for us to carry out research, trials and errors — to go back and ahead, never letting go.

At the base of each image there is a reality, no matter what its origin. What matters is the attraction that the final image arouses, its power of seduction, to take us elsewhere, in a world that everyone can conceive according to their own dreams and imaginations. We simply want this exhibition to take visitors elsewhere, nicely and gently, letting them enjoy the incredible and surprising richnesses of BLACKS…

Event

The opening

In the presence of Mr Stéphan Rossignol, Mayor of La Grande Motte and President of the Agglomération du Pays de l'Or, and Mr Frédéric Morvant and Philippe Michel, organizers of the International Multihull Boat Show. The hour of truth arrived, the guests too — over 200, despite very strong wind and rain, the tent was "BLACK" with people. Congratulations to caterer Cabiron and his staff for a particularly tasty cocktail, accompanied by a tasting of Languedoc wines by Baron Philippe de Rothschild.

Official photographs by our friend Jacques-Henri Guillet.

Video

The film

Here is the film, our entry into the world of the beautiful and dreamy BLACKS…  Order a copy of the film

Official Selection New York City Independent Film Festival — USA, 2019
Official Selection Retro Avant Garde Film Festival Venezia — Italy, 2018
Edition

The catalogue

NOIRS was exhibited twice, in June 2018 at the Relais & Châteaux Le Saint-James art gallery and in April 2019 at La Grande Motte. This catalogue is the one from the latter.

Gallery

The photographs

26 prints 140 × 105 cm. Signed prints, limited edition of 30 copies. Superb printing by Lebolabo.   Order a print or a copy of the film →

Support

The patrons

Lagoon

Lagoon — Cruising catamaran lifestyle

World leader on this market, Lagoon offers a full range of catamarans internationally famous for comfort, seafaring performance and quality of life at sea.

"Black isn't a colour you'd normally associate with the nautical world. So at the International Multihull Show, when Nicolas, Marine and Romain told us about their idea of using it, our desire to surprise took over. The result is bewitching, beautiful, encompassing… We are delighted to share this daring adventure: bringing black into our turquoise world!"

Alexandre Dauberville — Marketing Director
162 quai de Brazza, 33072 Bordeaux
info@cata-lagoon.fr • cata-lagoon.com
AGL

AGL — First shipyard partner in Europe for yacht paints

Since 1993, AGL S.A. has been serving marine professionals. Specialist in boat paints, with Awlgrip as the main reference.

"The Claris family has always been very close to ours. This quality of work is only the prerogative of great persons."
"How to make colour merchants love black?"

Pauline Lachkar, Gérard Lachkar, Richard Gibeaud
4 avenue du Centre, 06150 Cannes la Bocca
agl-marine.com
Incidence Sails

Incidence Sails — Number one sailmaker in France

Founded in the 80s, Incidence is No.1 in France and in the top 5 worldwide. From R&D to finishing touches, everything is done in-house.

"Nicolas and Romain Claris's work shares the same values as Incidence Sails. Supporting NOIRS therefore makes perfect sense."

Philippe Touet — Commercial Director
8 rue de la Désirée, BP 43052, 17031 La Rochelle
info.larochelle@incidence-sails.com • incidence-sails.com
VPLP Design

VPLP Design

Founded in 1983, VPLP Design is one of the world's leading naval architecture firms, specializing in multihull vessels. Boats have held most records and race titles, including the America's Cup in 2010.

"To look, to see. The photographer becomes our own magician when he raises our eyes to the higher level of an image… Our friendship comes from our common empathy, our desire for a world with more balance, more freedom, more creativity."

Marc Van Peteghem
2, rue d'Hauteville, 75010 Paris
team@vplp.fr • vplp.fr
Harken

Harken — Be at the height of our reputation

Harken, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of innovative sailboat hardware, manufacturing in the USA and Italy with distribution in 48 countries.

"Because this is just extremely beautiful, with impressive technique and realization."

Patrick Rieuperout
ZA Port des Minimes BP 3064, 17032 La Rochelle
info@harken.fr • harken.fr
Nanni Diesel

Nanni — Energy in Blue

International leader on the market of marine diesel engines, with a product range between 10 and 1,900 hp. One of the top three brands for marine inboard diesel engines in the world.

Amalia Festa — CEO
11 avenue de l'Abbé Edme Mariotte, 33260 La Teste de Buch
nannidiesel.com
Pochon

Pochon — 50 years of experience

With 50 years of experience and more than 40,000 pieces of equipment sailing around the world, POCHON SA offers unique expertise in marine electronic navigation and communication.

"Because art is important in our society… we invite you to visit NOIRS, and to let yourself be transported elsewhere, gently."

Julien Pochon — CEO
Avenue Michel Crépeau, 17000 La Rochelle
support@pochon.com • pochon.com
Lafourcade Yacht Broker

Lafourcade Yacht Broker — A unique yachting experience

The experience and worldwide network developed by Olivier Lafourcade over 40 years — 31 years at the helm of CNB with some 60 custom yachts and 100 semi-custom yachts built.

"I have worked with Claris Image Builder for more than 20 years. Helping to expose their research work to the public is an important motivation."

Olivier Lafourcade
9 avenue de la Jetée, 34300 Agde
o.lafourcade@yachtbroker.fr • yachtbroker.fr
Yacht Solutions

Yacht Solutions — A good start for your yacht

Yacht Solutions offers expertise in yacht equipment to new CNB and Lagoon owners — safety, tools, custom sheets, water sports and specific installations.

"Through our participation in NOIRS, it is not only the great professionals that we acknowledge, but also the artists who knew how to highlight all the colours of black."

Marc Renwick — President
179 quai de Brazza, 33100 Bordeaux
contact@yachtsolutions.fr • yachtsolutions.fr
Partners

The partners

m2 Organisation

m2 Organisation — 10th anniversary!

m2 Organisation organizes the International Multihull Boat Show. La Grande Motte receives each April the biggest multihull exhibition — 14,000+ visitors, 60+ multihulls, 55% international clientele.

45, Quai Emile Cormerais, 44800 Saint-Herblain
info@m2organisation.com • multicoque-online.com
The SDS

The Sustainable Design School — Guest of Honour

"For us, contributing to the promotion of The Sustainable Design School is more than just a pleasure — it is our duty."
Nicolas Claris – Romain Claris

Founded in 2013, an international institution dedicated to sustainable design and innovation, adapting the 17 Sustainable Development Goals as a creative tool.

1 chemin du Val Fleuri, 06800 Cagnes-Sur-Mer
contact@the-sds.com • the-sds.com
Skippers

Skippers — Yachting seen from Switzerland

The only Swiss magazine entirely dedicated to sailing, bilingual since 2001. The essential medium for reaching Swiss sailors and boat owners.

"Nicolas Claris' pictures are featured in many Skippers issues and contribute greatly to their visual appeal. It was entirely natural to be associated with his exhibition!"

Brice Lechevalier — CEO · 1222 Vésenaz, Switzerland
brice.lechevalier@skippers.ch • skippers.ch
Investor Media

Investor Media — Family Office, Yacht Investor, Art Views

An independent media group offering unique events and three publications for high net worth individuals and Family Offices. Exclusive media partner of the Monaco Yacht Summit.

Number One Berkeley Square, W1J 6EA London, UK
xavier@investor-media.com • investor-media.com
Ricoh Imaging

Ricoh Imaging — A company rich in its past

RICOH IMAGING supports Nicolas Claris as Pentax Ambassador. He works in Full Format (Pentax K-1) and Medium Format (Pentax 645Z and 645D).

"Extremely demanding, he pushes the limits of our equipment well beyond the average. A key partner for Ricoh Pentax!"

Yazid Belmadi — PRO Department Manager
7-9 avenue Robert Schuman, 94513 Rungis
my@ricoh-imaging.eu • ricoh-imaging.fr
Print System

Print — Doing well is our duty

Nicolas Brunaud and his wife Muriel Malabat have run this family printing house in Bègles for many years. Claris and Print have been collaborating for more than fifteen years.

"I enjoy Nicolas Claris' images — complex under their apparent simplicity. To reproduce them you have to be able to wonder…"

Nicolas Brunaud
143, avenue du Maréchal Leclerc, 33130 Bègles
n.brunaud@print-system.info • print-system.fr
Media

Press

Internet, radio, magazines — in France, in Switzerland, in England, the press speaks about NOIRS!

Thank you fip!   Thank you Junkpage #58!   Thank you Nicolas Venance of Actu Nautique for this interview!   Thank you Skippers!   Thank you Jean-Pierre Stahl for this beautiful article!   Thank you Yacht Investor for those four pages!   Thank you Le Monde du Multicoque #8 for that beautiful double page!

The authors

Nicolas Claris

Nicolas Claris

Co-founder in 1993 of Claris Image Builder — Photographer

"It takes a lot of maritime knowledge to give each boat its most beautiful aspects. It takes a lot of technical knowledge to master the recent art of digital. It takes a lot of humility to serve your subjects, not use them. It takes a lot of energy to take on new challenges every year. It takes a lot of academicism to know how to break codes. It takes a lot of respect to avoid the easy way out. It takes a lot of love to make generous images. It takes a lot of open-mindedness to be a great artist." — Bruno Belmont, Product Development, Groupe Bénéteau

In 2008, Sinar entrusted him with an HY6 for a year of intensive testing under extraordinary conditions. Now addicted to medium format (large sensors), Nicolas Claris became one of Pentax's rare ambassadors from 2012 to 2021.

In 2022, he switched to even more technologically advanced Fujifilm equipment — still medium format, with a 102-megapixel sensor delivering exceptional colour and image quality.

Full biography Website
Romain Claris

Romain Claris

Claris Image Builder — Video Director

"If a wide angle shot is what we can all do, detail is what is lacking for our image-drowned eye with which we look at the world. Then, only then — the fold of fabric in a sewing machine, the stroke of a brush on a white page, drops of rain on a train window, the hand of a sculptor, a pebble becoming a jewel, the flexible foot of a dancer… all these things filmed by Romain Claris move us because they allow us to see a wider, richer, more complex world than we thought." — Jacques Dubuisson, Screenwriter, Director

Romain Claris has been creating short films since 2000, selected and awarded at over a hundred international film festivals. Graduate of the Conservatoire Libre du Cinéma Français in Paris, 2005.

In 2020, he co-founded the Bordeaux Shorts Biennale. In preparation for 2026: the documentary Les comptes de la lune, an alternative history of the invention of numbers and calculation.

Full biography Awards Website