Written by Parker Renick

Transgressing artistic mediums, George Rousse explores photography, painting, drawing, and architecture as he transforms spaces in his new exhibition at The Sous Les Etoiles Gallery. Rousse brings life to the otherwise drab scenes of abandoned rooms and buildings through his unique style.

Rousse discovered his love of photography at the age of 9 when he received a Kodak Brownie camera as a Christmas gift. From there, his passion snowballed, with him studying photography and eventually opening his own architectural photography studio. But at the same time, he explored other mediums, including painting and sculpting. His skills in these mediums come together to form the beautiful work that fills the walls of the Sous Les Etoiles Gallery in his new exhibition.

In the exhibition, Rousse explores space, predominately through old and abandoned architecture, photographing rooms that sit empty or are set to be demolished soon. His work opens a portal into a different reality where, through the frame of geometric shapes, the viewer sees a different world in which color or unique architecture transforms the space into something new. Rousse demonstrates this passion for creating transformation through his work, stating, “My aim is to transform a place and then take a picture, which will be the memory of this space.”

These spaces form a background, or a foundation, for Rousse to build upon. He explores the basic structure, turning it into something beautiful and amazing. Adding color, unique architectural designs, and a general sense of liveliness, he transforms these scenes into eye-catching spaces. His work simultaneously shares the original setting, in need of rejuvenation, and his imagined reality for the space, bringing it beauty and life. In the end, these realities come together as they are flattened into one image that shares both worlds.

The exhibition also highlights Rousse’s proficiency in multiple mediums. Throughout the exhibition, viewers will find examples of his skills in drawing, painting with watercolor, and printing through his use of Archival Pigment Prints and C-prints. Each method serves as a different way for Rousse to demonstrate his skill; each medium creates a different feeling, yet they remain cohesive in their style and message.

Through his work, Rousse truly transforms his settings, offering the viewer a journey to a different realm as he brings beauty to the forgotten through his architectural, painting, drawing, and printing prowess.

George Rousse’s work is on display at the Sous Les Etoiles Gallery on E 71st St. in Manhattan. The Exhibition opened on April 30th and will come to an end on June 18th, 2022.

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