Posidonia (in the depths)

Posidonia (in the depths) is a photograph by the artist Hélène David, from the series Beasts and Meteors. This photograph by Hélène David captures the delicate movement of Posidonia seagrass in the depths of the sea, where fine strands intertwine in shades of deep blue and turquoise. Emerging from the darkness, the vegetation creates an almost abstract, painterly composition, evoking the fluidity, mystery and richness of the underwater world.

The Bêtes et Météores (Beasts and Meteors) series was developed in Provence, in collaboration with the Bouches-du-Rhône Departmental Archives. The starting point for the research is the hybrid figure of the human-animal, which has featured for centuries in numerous cultures and visual traditions.

Through this figure, Hélène David explores both the closeness between humans and animals, and the processes of separation and distinction between species. In this context, the artist is also interested in coats of arms, which she sees as evidence of a mechanism of identification: the qualities, attributes and virtues associated with certain animals become markers of human identity.

In the field, Hélène David also meets those she calls the territory’s ‘intercessors’ — livestock farmers, fishermen and shepherds — whose daily lives are intimately linked to the animal world. She is interested in the complexity of these relationships, which are at once concrete, emotional, symbolic and cultural. Animals may be hunted, reared, ridden, domesticated or consumed, whilst occupying a central place in our imagination, our identity and the way we define ourselves as human beings. This ambivalence fuels her reflection on what she calls our ‘animal side’.

“To speak of the animal side is also to speak of our instincts and our relationship with the world, and this ranges from grace to terror. Animals fascinate us; we long to acquire their attributes. We can live with them, sometimes for them, and yet at the same time we also dismember them, eat them and exploit them.” Hélène David

The title of the series also refers to ‘meteors’, understood here as the range of atmospheric phenomena occurring in the sky. These form a key recurring theme in Hélène David’s work, as many of the people she has encountered throughout her career — Inuit communities, sailors, Basque farmers — have a close relationship with the weather, which directly shapes their daily lives, their activities and their relationship with the land.

Some works in this series, such as this one, were created underwater whilst free-diving. Taking these photographs therefore involves considerable physical engagement and requires careful breath preparation. Due to the conditions in which they were created, these images are more intuitive, less composed, leaving more room for the invisible. Hélène David explains: “When I free-dive with my camera housing and equipment, ultimately, I don’t see much. It is the body that takes the photograph. It is all the stimuli, all the bodily sensations—rather than the gaze itself—that come together and ultimately create the photograph.”

Hélène David’s practice is built upon careful observation of the living world and prolonged immersion in the territories she explores. Drawing on the tradition of documentary photography, she combines her photographic work with writing, archival research and encounters with those she regards as ‘intercessors’ of the territory.

Her series view the living world as an ensemble of bodies—human, animal, plant and mineral—placed on the same plane and linked by a network of interdependencies and porous relationships. Through poetic and sensitive images, composed and selected with a strong emphasis on intuition, she creates a space where the visible engages in dialogue with the invisible, the real with the imaginary, and where the natural world becomes the setting for a sensory and evocative experience.

Hélène David’s works are regularly exhibited in France in galleries, festivals and museums, and are included in several public collections. This artwork was acquired by the Archives départementales des Bouches-du-Rhône.

Preparation and delivery times for the artwork:
The preparation time ranges from 1 to 5 business days, EXCEPT if the print has not yet been made or must be mounted/framed. In that case, the turnaround time will be approximately five business days for a simple print and up to two or three weeks to print and mount and/or frame the photograph.
The shipping time, which is in addition to the production and preparation time, varies depending on the country of origin and the destination country. It can take anywhere between 1 and 15 business days. As soon as the carrier picks up the parcel containing your order, you will receive a confirmation email with a tracking number you can use to check the status of your shipment by logging in to the carrier’s website.

Shipping times and conditions: we work with the most respected carriers on the market to offer you the best service at the best price. Shipping fees, which are billed to the buyer, are indicated in the shopping cart after you have entered and confirmed the shipping address. The fees are determined according to a scale that depends on the dimensions and weight of the artwork ordered, the address of origin and the shipping address.

International delivery: the international carriers with which we work, including FedEx and DHL, deliver to more than 200 countries and territories around the world. Thus, your country is probably one of the covered areas. If that is not the case, please email us so that we can find a solution.

Insurance: Artistics insures each shipment under a policy that covers the risks of loss or damage to your order while it is being transported to the shipping address you provide. The cost of this insurance is included in the shipping fees. If your order is damaged upon delivery, you should flag the issue with the carrier, then contact us so that we can respond as quickly as possible.

Custom duties: if the order is shipped from or to a non-EU member country, your invoice does not include taxes. Any customs duties, local taxes or import duties are the buyer’s responsibility. As such, we encourage you to contact the relevant authorities in your country of residence to obtain more information.

Free returns: if for any reason, you are not satisfied with your purchase, you can return it free of charge within 14 days of receipt of your package: we will send a carrier to pick up the piece and we will cover the return shipping fees. You will be reimbursed for the order amount after we have received the work in perfect condition.

For more information, go to our Buyer FAQ section or contact us by phone at +331.40.28.92.28 or by email at contact@artistics.com.

Artistics accepts payment by bank card, check (if it is drawn on a bank in France), wire transfer and PayPal.

Bank card. We accept major credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, CB and American Express. Payments made on our website are completely secure as they are processed by our banking partner, the CIC. Your banking information is encrypted and sent to the CIC and is never handled by Artistics.

Bank check: The check must be payable in France (i.e., the bank branch that issues the check must be registered in France). Please make the check payable to Artistics and mail it, along with a photocopy or a scan of your legal ID or passport, to: Artistics – 16 rue de Turbigo – 75002 Paris – France. Please write your name and order number on the back of the check. If you choose this payment method, please note that your order will not be processed until we receive the check.

Wire transfer: If you choose this payment method, please note that your order will not be processed until we receive the wire on our bank account. After your order is confirmed, we will email you the information needed to send the wire transfer.

PayPal

Regardless of the type of payment method chosen, you will receive a confirmation email a few minutes after your payment has been approved. You can also access this information on your personal account on our website.

For more information, go to our Buyer FAQ section or contact us by phone at +331.40.28.92.28 or by email at contact@artistics.com.