Pierre Toutain-Dorbec
Encyclopedia
Pierre Toutain-Dorbec, in Orbec, Normandy, France
is a photographer, artist, author, and publisher whose work emphasizes a humanist perspective
. Pierre Toutain-Dorbec currently resides in New Mexico
, USA.
, Normandy, and Paris
. His family moved between Paris and Orbec to accommodate Pierre's education and his mother's career. His artistic education
began within his family; his parent's provided instruction in traditional techniques in drawing
, painting
, and sculpting
. His grandfather, Gabriel, was a photographer in during World War I
and his uncle Jean was also a photographer and artist. Pierre's father, Jacques, was a known textile expert and designer, and later a painter. His mother, Francoise Fontaine, was a professional musician and opera singer. From his uncle, Pierre received instruction in photography
and film development
.Toutain-Dorbec was influenced by his grandparent's neighbor, the French figurative painter Pierre Laffille
(French, 1938-), who remained a life-time friend. At age 16, Toutain-Dorbec attended the Atelier de la Grande-Chaumiere
, a renowned art school
in Paris, where he received a classical education in fine art. While attending art school, Toutain-Dorbec supplemented his art education working as an assistant with the acclaimed German photographer Wilhem Maywald, who resided near the school.
By the end of 1968, with the encouragement of his family Toutain-Dorbec left home to pursue a career as a photographer. He began his career as photographer in Vietnam
.From 1968 to 1995 Pierre worked as a war correspondent
, for both Gamma and Sygma press agencies
, and as a free lance photographer. His work focused mainly on Southeast Asia
and North Africa
. He covered his time in Vietnam and Cambodia with the Khmer Rouge
(a collection of those photos are archived at the Rutgers University
). While in Burma
where he covered the problems of guerrillas fighting the government, like the Karen. Toutain-Dorbec worked to draw attention to the problems of child abuse
and child prostitution in Southeast Asia and problematic laws which could result in children being incarcerated alongside their fathers. Pierre paid special attention issues associated with illicit drugs, especially heroin. Toutain-Dorbec advocated the importance of fair judicial treatment for foreigner in the courts. Toutain-Dorbec worked for two years in Morocco from 1978 to 1979 for the King, photographing then-Crown Prince Sidi Mohammed and further documenting Morocco
. King Hassan II
has a large collection of his photographs. In India, he worked extensively on fiction regarding leprosy
, religion and ancient cities. Pierre Toutain-Dorbec lived and worked with the Dalai Lama
in 1983–84, co-authoring two books with him. He also photographed old French traditions going back as the middle age (some of the stories are now part of museum collections
, like the Musee des Traditions in Louviers, Normandy). Pierre also worked for the movie industry.
From 1995 to 2003, Toutain-Dorbec lived in France and Spain
where he pursued on personal projects, primarily sculpture and photography. In 2002, he became the director and curator of the International Museum for Photography, located in the ancient Chateau de Belcastel
; Toutain-Dorbec has received claim for his work in this capacity. In 2004, he moved to New Mexico
commencing a project documenting the United States.
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
is a photographer, artist, author, and publisher whose work emphasizes a humanist perspective
Humanism
Humanism is an approach in study, philosophy, world view or practice that focuses on human values and concerns. In philosophy and social science, humanism is a perspective which affirms some notion of human nature, and is contrasted with anti-humanism....
. Pierre Toutain-Dorbec currently resides in New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, USA.
Biography
Pierre grew up in OrbecOrbec
Orbec is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-Population:...
, Normandy, and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. His family moved between Paris and Orbec to accommodate Pierre's education and his mother's career. His artistic education
Art education
Art education is the area of learning that is based upon the visual, tangible arts—drawing, painting, sculpture, and design in jewelry, pottery, weaving, fabrics, etc. and design applied to more practical fields such as commercial graphics and home furnishings...
began within his family; his parent's provided instruction in traditional techniques in drawing
Drawing
Drawing is a form of visual art that makes use of any number of drawing instruments to mark a two-dimensional medium. Common instruments include graphite pencils, pen and ink, inked brushes, wax color pencils, crayons, charcoal, chalk, pastels, markers, styluses, and various metals .An artist who...
, painting
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, and sculpting
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
. His grandfather, Gabriel, was a photographer in during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and his uncle Jean was also a photographer and artist. Pierre's father, Jacques, was a known textile expert and designer, and later a painter. His mother, Francoise Fontaine, was a professional musician and opera singer. From his uncle, Pierre received instruction in photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
and film development
Photographic processing
Photographic processing is the chemical means by which photographic film and paper is treated after photographic exposure to produce a negative or positive image...
.Toutain-Dorbec was influenced by his grandparent's neighbor, the French figurative painter Pierre Laffille
Pierre Laffillé
Pierre Laffillé was a French painter, born at Envermeu, Seine-Maritime.- Biography :Pierre Laffillé studied at the Académie Julian in Paris in 1956 then studied at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts from 1959 to 1961. His first exhibition was in 1960 at Dieppe...
(French, 1938-), who remained a life-time friend. At age 16, Toutain-Dorbec attended the Atelier de la Grande-Chaumiere
Académie de la Grande Chaumière
The Académie de la Grande Chaumière is an art school in the VIe arrondissement of Paris, France. The school was founded in 1902 by the Swiss Martha Stettler , who refused to teach the strict academic rules of painting of the École des Beaux-Arts. It opened the way to the "Art Indépendant"...
, a renowned art school
Art school
Art school is a general term for any educational institution with a primary focus on the visual arts, especially illustration, painting, photography, sculpture, and graphic design. The term applies to institutions with elementary, secondary, post-secondary or undergraduate, or graduate or...
in Paris, where he received a classical education in fine art. While attending art school, Toutain-Dorbec supplemented his art education working as an assistant with the acclaimed German photographer Wilhem Maywald, who resided near the school.
By the end of 1968, with the encouragement of his family Toutain-Dorbec left home to pursue a career as a photographer. He began his career as photographer in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
.From 1968 to 1995 Pierre worked as a war correspondent
War correspondent
A war correspondent is a journalist who covers stories firsthand from a war zone. In the 19th century they were also called Special Correspondents.-Methods:...
, for both Gamma and Sygma press agencies
News agency
A news agency is an organization of journalists established to supply news reports to news organizations: newspapers, magazines, and radio and television broadcasters. Such an agency may also be referred to as a wire service, newswire or news service.-History:The oldest news agency is Agence...
, and as a free lance photographer. His work focused mainly on Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
and North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
. He covered his time in Vietnam and Cambodia with the Khmer Rouge
Khmer Rouge
The Khmer Rouge literally translated as Red Cambodians was the name given to the followers of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, who were the ruling party in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, led by Pol Pot, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Son Sen and Khieu Samphan...
(a collection of those photos are archived at the Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
). While in Burma
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
where he covered the problems of guerrillas fighting the government, like the Karen. Toutain-Dorbec worked to draw attention to the problems of child abuse
Child abuse
Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
and child prostitution in Southeast Asia and problematic laws which could result in children being incarcerated alongside their fathers. Pierre paid special attention issues associated with illicit drugs, especially heroin. Toutain-Dorbec advocated the importance of fair judicial treatment for foreigner in the courts. Toutain-Dorbec worked for two years in Morocco from 1978 to 1979 for the King, photographing then-Crown Prince Sidi Mohammed and further documenting Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
. King Hassan II
Hassan II of Morocco
King Hassan II l-ḥasan aṯ-ṯānī, dial. el-ḥasan ettâni); July 9, 1929 – July 23, 1999) was King of Morocco from 1961 until his death in 1999...
has a large collection of his photographs. In India, he worked extensively on fiction regarding leprosy
Leprosy
Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Named after physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, leprosy is primarily a granulomatous disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract; skin lesions...
, religion and ancient cities. Pierre Toutain-Dorbec lived and worked with the Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama is a high lama in the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" branch of Tibetan Buddhism. The name is a combination of the Mongolian word далай meaning "Ocean" and the Tibetan word bla-ma meaning "teacher"...
in 1983–84, co-authoring two books with him. He also photographed old French traditions going back as the middle age (some of the stories are now part of museum collections
Collection (museum)
A museum is distinguished by a collection of often unique objects that forms the core of its activities for exhibitions, education, research, etc. This differentiates it from an archive or library, where the contents may be more paper-based, replaceable and less exhibition oriented...
, like the Musee des Traditions in Louviers, Normandy). Pierre also worked for the movie industry.
From 1995 to 2003, Toutain-Dorbec lived in France and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
where he pursued on personal projects, primarily sculpture and photography. In 2002, he became the director and curator of the International Museum for Photography, located in the ancient Chateau de Belcastel
Château de Belcastel
The Château de Belcastel is a medieval castle in the village and commune of Belcastel, on the north bank of the Aveyron River, downstream from Rodez in the Aveyron département of France. The oldest part of the Chateau was constructed in the 9th century, and it grew at the hands of the Belcastel...
; Toutain-Dorbec has received claim for his work in this capacity. In 2004, he moved to New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
commencing a project documenting the United States.