Hugo Naccache (his real name) has decided not to choose between his two passions.
As manager of Bouillon des vignes, an institutional bistro tucked away on a side street in Paris's 17th arrondissement, he appreciates the effervescence of the room and its electricity. But he also needs the silence that follows, as he wanders the streets, camera in hand. “These walks sometimes offer me an unexpected encounter, between here and elsewhere, and sometimes, a good photo”, he posits.
Of his Paris photos, three were selected for this summer, appearing on two T-shirts and even on an all-over dress. These products are available here.
How did you become a photographer?
I became a photographer “by chance”. A camera that wasn't being used, and a desire to look around me in a more poetic way. I wandered the streets of Paris with my camera, without a precise itinerary. But I had this desire to see beauty. For me, photography is an expectation that turns into an exchange when the moment lends itself to it, when the frame is set and the lines begin to dance. Suddenly, an intimacy from elsewhere stares back at us. All you have to do is click the shutter. Ten years ago, when I moved to Paris and started photography, I met sculptor Marc Perez. His eye and approach to art helped me to look better. Beauty is everywhere for those who seek it.
What is your relationship with the agnès b. brand?
agnès b... I've heard the name ever since I was a child, from my mom, who loved the brand and wore it. A brand that defies time and fashion, with no pretensions other than to continue to create freely.
How did the collaboration go?
I submitted my photo book by chance, at the head office, again without any precise plan, without knowing what was going to happen. Just because I liked Agnès b. and knew she was sensitive to photography. 10 days later, I got a phone call: “Agnès has chosen a photo for a t-shirt” and I was overjoyed. That was three years ago. This summer, 3 new photos were selected and are now in the stores. My work, which I had thought intimate and solitary, began to travel around the world. My mother is proud, and so am I. Thank you, Agnès!
