Monica Lefèbre's profile

Behind The Golden Curtain - Documentary Photobook

This project has been created during my documentary photography course with great support by my professor and photographer Michael Danner. Our task was to photograph every single day and each week we brought in our findings to narrow down a theme and create an edit.

I started photographing my everyday life and documenting the rather unusual surroundings and lifestyle I enjoy. All photos allow the viewer a glimpse not only into my life but maybe a lifestyle with locations and events they would otherwise never see or have access to.

At the same time the photographs have a deeper more emotional and sentimental value, vaguely showing what is going on behind the golden curtain. Not everything is as it seems and I am in the midst of finding ways to navigate it all and bringing the viewer along for this journey and invite them to read between the lines.
Excerpt from the book:

"For many years, I have carefully fabricated an image of myself, which kept me at a safe and comfortable distance to my environment. I built up a facade, wherein I only let selected people get an insight and even fewer who I have revealed my private life to.

I knew my everyday life looked different to the lives of many of my peers and I started concealing it in fear of being judged, labelled or otherwise excluded. Even though my everyday life can be just as dull as anyone else’s.

About a year ago I gradually dropped a part of that facade and let more and more aspects of my everyday show. Why should I keep everything to myself? Why should I hide?

The work in this book shows some of my most personal moments, through which I want to share my travels, activities and experiences. This is the first time I so publicly display my private and everyday life. I invite you to come and take a look behind the golden curtain."
Behind The Golden Curtain - Documentary Photobook
Published:

Behind The Golden Curtain - Documentary Photobook

Published: