Marina Gadonneix’s work uses shapes and common objects to fill the landscape of her photographs. The French artist uses these everyday spaces or what used to be to build that connection with the viewer through the theme of her many portfolios. Switching frequently between black and white, Gadonneix shows many forms of familiarity from destruction of a car and fire to colored bars of a television set. The House That Burns Every Day evokes the sense of the past that once was and yet, the memory is still far out of reach. The shots look as if nothing was disturbed by Gadonniex, creating a more realistic setting as if these are rooms that people encounter in their everyday lives. And yet, with the rooms that Gadonneix picked, the flat appearance of the photographs brings more life into the book than one could ever imagine.
Gadonneix has taken advantage of the space for The House That Burns Every Day after firefighters have used it for their training. The burning of the rooms has set in, blending in with the ash color of the paper that the photographs are set on and bound together. The audience can feel the memories of what this house was prior to a training hub screaming off the pages. The viewer creates an ideal life out of the images; a family living on the couch that is now bare, the kitchen that is scorched, and what appears to be a garage with a frame of a car sitting inside. The existence that had to have been at some point is represented by the dummy that is lying on the ground in one of Gadonneix’s photographs. Although inanimate, it helps tie in the impression that the house was once in great condition to live in. While trying to analyze the decay of the home life, the audience sinks deep into the darkness just like the boundaries and shadows of the photographs.
It is easier to spot the highlights within the images than to search for the immense amount of detail that blends in with the black of the paper. On some pages, the smoke helps to create the border of the images. On another level, the darkness that engulfs the objects implants dark and terrifying thoughts. What if this space was left with actual items of a family for firefighters to find? Was this house originally found by the firehouse because of a fire that occurred here? Is the family safe? The life that is presented in the book is still yet so alive and vibrant the more the rooms are used for training. It is a wonder that the rooms have the capability to be torched anymore than shown, but there is more burning to be done and more darkness to be formed.
The House That Burns Every Day is the oxymoronic definition of silent life. Though some may find the photographs hard to view due to the dark tones, the idea behind it all seals the excellence that Gadonneix achieves. These are rooms that you are not able to walk through everyday, however Gadonneix guides you through the emotions that would go with seeing such a sight. The House That Burns Every Day is sure to burn an imprint into the recollection of every viewer.
If you are interested in purchasing The House That Burns Every Day, you can purchase it on the RVB Books website.
Written by Madison Rich
Photographs by Madison Rich