Michel Comte | Women. Classics. Russian drive by Vogue | 1 December — 14 February 2008

Press release
Works

VOGUE magazine and POBEDA gallery presents an exhibition of the celebrated swiss photographer Michel Comte . An unprecedented portfolio was created specially for russian Vogue. 12 russian women are the heroines : Maria Mironova (actress), Natalia Vlasova ( Moscow visagistes school director), Renata Litvinova (actress), Oksana Pautova (model), Dasha Zukova (designer), Katya and Nina Gomiashvili (designer and gallery owner), Tutta Larsen (TV hostess), Ekaterina Volkova (actress), Polina Kitsenko (“Podium”boutiques co-owner), Tatiana Arno (TV hostess), Oksana Akinshina (actress).

Alyona Doletskaya : russian Vogue ,editor in chief: “ This name is imprinted with bold italics into the history of photography. Michel Comte — in a way is a unique photographer, artist and, you’re not gonna beleive it, — a man. To melt the hearts of young russian beauties, capture them such, as they dreaded to see themselves, and then make them love it — it takes an enormous talent. That’s the magic of his russian portfolio for the december issue of Vogue ”.

Nina Gomiashvili, Pobeda gallery : “ It is a big honor for Pobeda gallery to host Michel Comte exhibition. Women and Classics series is quintessential for his photographic biography. He hi-lights totally unfamiliar features in the well known faces . Staged shoots are combined with the abruptness of reportage photography. His classics is non classic, that is why it is so gripping.

Michel Comte was born in Zurich, educated to be a renovator of paintings, he became famous photographer . Photo-shoots for american, italian and german Vogue as well as for Vanity Fair and GQ are in his portfolio.
Michel Comte combines his work of fashion photographer with charity activities. He makes portraits for Vogue and re-portages for Red Cross International from Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other hot spots, pictures top models and lyrical landscapes. In 2004 he founded a charity organization the aim of which is help to supply third world countries with drinking water.
Michel Comte’s creative work is a victory over labels and conventionalities of the genre. He is capable of casting a new look on Sophia Loren, Naomi Campbell, Demi Moore and Jeremy Irons. Being the master in pure image , in most of his portraits Conte prefers clean neutral background ,bringing all his attention to the subject.