Yannis Davy Guibinga & Pauline Loctin | Pterygota

Pterygota – a new collaborative series by the inimitable Gabonese photographer Yannis Davy Guibinga and Canadian paper sculptor Pauline Loctin is an exciting blend of vibrant and quixotic imagery which transports the viewer to a multi-dimensional world. 

The series sees photography, painting and a multitude of colours merge to create a new and surreal universe. Inspired by the movement of flying insects as well as the atmosphere and hues of the underwater world, this photography series uses  the boldness and richness of patterns and colours to transport the audience to an otherworldly universe ruled by the vibrancy of  tangible textures and the luminosity of pigments you can feel.

Gradients of blue, purple and coral hues are mixed throughout the series to create an eclectic yet beautiful amalgamation of patterns, creating images that depart from the classical conventions of portrait photography in order to lean into something more abstract and conceptual.

 Read Loctin’s poem which accompanies this chromatic series:

Pterygota [:/winged ; ailé] 

To those who return,

No one has cut off your wings, you carry them within you; these wings will always bring you back to where it all began, to where your ancestors await you and guide you, and they will give you the path on your way.

Then all of a sudden you will know and you will feel it deep down that nothing will need to be said as this wisdom has always been known  to your heart, even when it wasn’t visible  to your eyes.

And once there, you’ll be back here, in a place that recognises you, All the colours will come back to you, as if you had never gone far.

In this return, all the colours were living in you.

Photography: Yannis Davy Guibinga

Paper Art: Pauline Loctin

Featuring: Toshiro Kam & Shah Frank

Stylist: Haj Maa

MUAH: Maquilleuse MG

Photography Assistant: Dominique Jean-Marie

Yannis Davy Guibinga is currently based in Montréal, Canada. Visit his website or check out his Instagram for more sensational work!