Artists

Eric Leleu

Born in Douai, Eric Leleu is an independent documentary photographer based in northern France. After completing preparatory studies, he studied social entrepreneurship at the Lyon School of Management before settling in Shanghai in 2005 as a documentary photographer, where he lived and worked for twelve years.

During this period, he notably documented propaganda art and the many forms of political communication in China. He developed a body of work that blurs the boundaries between art and documentary, as well as between reality and fiction.

His practice focuses on the notion of social connection, particularly the individual’s relationship to social norms: how people respond to the written or unspoken rules that govern their social group, culture, society, or country. Acceptance, submission, indifference, resistance, reaction—each response to authority is shaped by personal history and psychology, with a particular attention to those who resist or disregard norms.

Today, he works in his home region, where he is restoring the farm where he grew up and which he has been documenting over a long period. He also founded La Musette in Guesnain, a hybrid café dedicated to photography, art, social connection, and agriculture.

His work has been published in The New York Times, Newsweek, The Guardian, WirtschaftsWoche, Fortune, Madame Figaro, Le Monde, and Le Courrier International, and has been exhibited in Asia, Europe, and the United States.

Subtitles-Chapter 2-01

loading...

Subtitles-Chapter 2-01

Artist:

2012

Giclée print on Hahnemühle fine art Baryta

H 30 x 38 cm / H 80 x 100 cm / H 120 x 150 cm

Ed of 6 / Ed of 3 / Ed of 1

Subtitles-Chapter 2-01

2012

Giclée print on Hahnemühle fine art Baryta

H 30 x 38 cm / H 80 x 100 cm / H 120 x 150 cm

Ed of 6 / Ed of 3 / Ed of 1

Subtitles-Chapter 2-05

loading...

Subtitles-Chapter 2-05

Artist:

2012

Giclée print on Hahnemühle fine art Baryta

H 30 x 38 cm / H 80 x 100 cm / H 120 x 150 cm

Ed of 6 / Ed of 3 / Ed of 1

Subtitles-Chapter 2-05

2012

Giclée print on Hahnemühle fine art Baryta

H 30 x 38 cm / H 80 x 100 cm / H 120 x 150 cm

Ed of 6 / Ed of 3 / Ed of 1

Subtitles-Chapter 2-06

loading...

Subtitles-Chapter 2-06

Artist:

2012

Giclée print on Hahnemühle fine art Baryta

H 30 x 38 cm / H 80 x 100 cm / H 120 x 150 cm

Subtitles-Chapter 2-06

2012

Giclée print on Hahnemühle fine art Baryta

H 30 x 38 cm / H 80 x 100 cm / H 120 x 150 cm

Subtitles-Chapter 2-07

loading...

Subtitles-Chapter 2-07

Artist:

2012

Giclée print on Hahnemühle fine art Baryta

H 30 x 38 cm / H 80 x 100 cm / H 120 x 150 cm

Ed of 6 / Ed of 3 / Ed of 1

Subtitles-Chapter 2-07

2012

Giclée print on Hahnemühle fine art Baryta

H 30 x 38 cm / H 80 x 100 cm / H 120 x 150 cm

Ed of 6 / Ed of 3 / Ed of 1

Born

1979 in Douai, France

Education

1990
Discovers photography via black and white film processing

Solo Exhibitions

2024
NOIR, Le Bouquet, Lille, France

2023
NOIR, hôp[i], Lille, France

2022
Rimbaud, Beffroi de Douai, Douai, France

2019
European Migrations, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA
Calais, Duke University, Durham, USA

2016
Chez Françoise, MJC de Sin-le-Noble, France

2015
Chez Françoise, Médiathèque de Guesnain, France
Chez Françoise, Café Chez Françoise Guesnain, France
Light & Blossom, ART LABOR Gallery, Shanghai

2014
Subtitles, ART LABOR Gallery, Shanghai

2010
French Pavilion – Touring exhibition in 8 cities in China, Alliance Francaise, China
Instants Décisifs – Epson Photo Expert in Paris, France

2009
Instants Décisifs, ART LABOR Gallery, Shanghai

Group Exhibitions

2024
Christie’s gallery, London, UK

2023
Festival Les Photaumnales à Beauvais, France

2021
Festival Transphotographiques Lille, France

2015
Photo Shanghai Fair, ART LABOR Gallery, Shanghai, China

2013
Yan Huang Museum, Beijing
Kaunas photo festival, Lithuania
Day Dreamers, Les Boutographies, Montpellier, France

2012
I Like People, Les Nuits photographiques (finalist), Paris, France
I Like People, The Great Wall of Oakland, USA

2011
I Like People, Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center, New York, USA

2010
2nd Impressions, ART LABOR Gallery, Shanghai
Day Dreamers, Arles (Caochangdi Photo Festival), Beijing
Pavilion France, VIP space of the French Pavilion, Shanghai
Pavilion France, Maison Rough Freres Pourcel, Shanghai
Day Dreamers, Les Photaumnals, Beauvais, France
Antennes program, Arles Photo Festival, France
I Like People, One-dot-zero Festival, London, Britain

2009
I Like People, Phnom Penh Photo Festival, Cambodia
Day Dreamers, Lianzhou Photo Festival (LIPF)
Day Dreamers, 1st Rangoon Photography Festival, Myanmar

2007
Day Dreamers Project, MOMA Zendai Shop, Shanghai
My Chair, Pecha Kucha Shanghai # 5, Kong Gallery, Shanghai
Day Dreamers Project, Angkor Photography Festival, APF07, Cambodia
Day Dreamers Project, Lianzhou International Photography Festival, Lianzhou

2006
Have breakfast with Hu Jintao to discuss the evolution of the world, Vienna Café, Shanghai
Color of India, Lille 3000 Culturel Festival, France
Creative Bazaar # 1, MOMA Zendai, Shanghai
Day Dreamers Project, Pecha Kucha Shanghai # 4, 1918 Warehouse Gallery, Shanghai

2005
Smoggy Bus, Hype Gallery, rencontres Internationales d’Arles, France
China Red, Le Petit Café, Shanghai

2004
Haigui ou le retour des tortues de mer, Project Fellowship received from City of Paris (Paris Jeunes Aventures Award)
Defis jeunes, National Program
Spririt of Sushi, Hype Gallery, Palais de Tokyo, France

Awards

2024
Global SinoPhoto Award (UK), Observational Photography category, winner
Selected for Openfolio #3, Institut pour la photographie, Lille, France

2016
La Bourse du Talent, Portrait category (France), finalist
Portfolio Award, Rencontres Internationales de la Photographie d’Arles (France), finalist

2009
Instants Décisifs, Photo competition by PHOTO magazine and Nikon, 1st prize category “Speed and movement”, France

Fellowships

2004
Haigui, Paris city (Paris Jeunes Adventures), the French government (Défi Jeunes), France

Publications

Publications presse (sélection, 2010-2023)
The New York Times, The Guardian, M Le Monde magazine, Les inrocks, Madame Figaro, Elle Déco, Die Zeit, WirtschaftWoche, Globo, Esquire, Wired, The Good Life…

2009
8 Portraits of French Entrepreneurs in Shanghai, Ilook, China
Day dreamers project, VSD, France

2008
Shopping Guide about Shanghai, L’Express, France
China Beauty, Xi’an, Mangazine, China
Matière Grise la Nouvelle Révélation Chinoise, Le Monde 2, France

2007
Portrait of Fashion Designer Anne Fontaine, Madame Figaro, China
Reportage on Old Timer Car Sally from Dusseldorf to Shanghai, Wirschaft Woche, Germany
Day Dreamers Project, Pecha Kucha Night book by Klein Dytham Architecture, Japan
Day Dreamers Project, Chine, l’Eveil du Géant, Editions Bower, France

2006
Morocco Road Trip Photo, Travel + Leisure, China
Portrait of Former Tiananmen Leader, Liaisons Sociales, France
Portrait of an Interior Designer Couple, Elle Deco, China
Portrait of the French Chef Jacques Pourcel, Le Point, France

2005
Shopping in Shanghai, Svdenska, Sweden
Portrait of Isaac Mao, Web Leader, South China Morning Post, Hong Kong
Gourmet Supplément, Vogue, France