©Antoine Doyen



Rebecca Topakian (b. 1989, France)
rebecca[dot]topakian[at]gmail[dot]com
Instagram

Lives and works between Paris region and Yerevan.
Resident at POUSH Manifesto.
Part of Mirage collectif.


Rebecca Topakian graduated from the École Nationale Supérieure de la Photographie of Arles in 2015. With a background in philosophy and geography, she questions notions of identity and memory in her work. By exploring the in-betweens, the mythologies and fictions of identity, she consistently attempts to shed light on the crucial role it plays in our time. For Rebecca Topakian, identity is articulated in the relation between poetry, intimacy and politics.

She has participated in many exhibitions in France and abroad. Her first book, Infra- (Classe Moyenne Editions, 2017) was shortlisted for the author book prize of les Rencontres d’Arles. She was shortlisted for FOAM Talent 2019 and was laureate of the national commission “Regards du Grand Paris 2020”. In 2021, she was laureate of the Fondation des Artistes grant and the CNAP grant for documentary photography, the Blow Up Press Award, the Bourse Transverse for a duo of photographer and fine artist, and the Fénéon Prize. In 2022, she was selected for the national commission “Radioscopie de la France” of la BNF and the French ministry of Culture. She was awarded the ADIAF x Katawiki prize for Emergent artist in 2023. She is currently part of the european program FUTURES as a laureate of the Frutescens program by Centre photographique Rouen Normandie. Her work is currently on show at the Chicago Cultural Center. She will launch her book Dame Gulizar and Other Love Stories (Blow Up Press) in October 2024 during her exhibition at Librairie Delpire.

Her work is part of several collections, including the Cnap and the BNF.

CV


OINGOING AND UPCOMING
 
2024. [upcoming book] Dame Gulizar and Other Love Stories, Blow Up Press
2024. [upcoming solo show] Dame Gulizar and Other Love Stories, curated by Théophile Calot, Delpire & Co, Paris, FR
2024. [upcoming group show] Displacements and Torrents: Where the Dnipro and the Elbe Meet, curated by Sasha Baydal and Nataša Petrešin-Bachelez, La Cité des Arts
2024 05/04 - 10/06. Opening Passages: Photographers Respond to Chicago and Paris, curated by Carl Fuldner, associate curators Pascal Beausse and Clément Postec, Chicago Cultural Center and 6018 North, Chicago, USA


SOLO & DUO SHOWS

2024. Along the crumbling wall, soon, the violet will bloom, curated by François Cheval, Borderline Art Space, Iaşi, RO
2018. Dame Gulizar and other love stories, AGBU, Yerevan, ARM
2018. Infra-, Caravanserail, London, UK
2017. Infra-, la Galerie du Rayon Vert, Quinzaine de la Photographie Nantaise, Nantes, FR
2017. Les fidèles,Espace T2, curated by BLBC, Paris, FR
2016. Infra-, curated by Anne Immelé, Centre Culturel Français de Freibourg, Freibourg, Germany
2015. The Situation, Université d’Aix-Marseille

GROUP SHOWS

2024. La France sous leurs yeuxBNF, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Paris, FR
2023. Luciné, galerie Popy Arvani, Paris, FR
2023. La BPM fête ses 10ans, Mulhouse, FR
2023. Borderline Ornaments, curated by Araks Sahakyan & Irena Popiashvili, Folk Arts Museum, Yerevan, AM
2023. Rencontres Photo du 10ème festival, Curated by Emmanuel Halkin, FETART, 10th arrondissement townhall, Paris, FR
2023.  From thread to fabric, w Araks Sahakyan, Curated by ICA -  Lilith Grigoryan & Nazareth Karoyan, Katapult, Hayart Cultural Center, Yerevan, AM
2023.  Les Arts Arméniens : regards croisés, curated by Guillaume Toumanian, ARP Art Research, Paris, FR
2023. Lumière!, curated by Stefania Angelini, salle d’exposition du Quai Antoine 1er, Monaco, MC
2022. Regards du Grand Paris, Magasins Généraux, Pantin, FR
2022. Regards du Grand Paris, Les Ateliers Médicis, Clichy-sous-Bois, FR
2022. Menk, curated by Guillaume Toumanian, CAC Landes, Mont de Marsan, FR
2021. Atlas Bazar, curated by Rotolux, Poush Manifesto, FR
2021. La fête, Lexi Spaced, Paris, FR
2020. La volière, Poush Manifesto, curated by Yvannoé Kruger, Paris, FR
2019. The Center Is Not Holding, curated by Perwana Nazif, Real Pain Fine Arts, Los Angeles, USA
2019. Clôture, Galerie Arondit, Paris, FR
2019. Bad Girls Do It Well, La Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris, FR
2019. À première vue, Galerie Maupetit, Marseille, FR
2019. Bibelots et villebrequins, La confrèrire, Paris, FR
2018. Dreaming Alive, Focus: Armenia, Vienna Contemporary, Autriche, AT
2018. BIT20 - Biennale de l'Image, Tangible, galerie AAB, Paris, FR
2018. La flamme double, Biennale de l'image possible (BIP Liège), Les Brasseurs, Liège, BE
2017. GOD ONLY KNOWS, curated by The Tropicool Company, TORRI Gallery, Paris, FR
2017. Inventeurs d'aventures : épisode 2, curated by Gaël Charbau, La Villa Arson, Nice, FR
2017. CO-OP, Thread Count curated by Der Greif, Unseen Photo Fair, Amsterdam, NL
2017. Infra- at TEAT Champ Fleuri, La Réunion, FR
2017. Infra- at galerie Ter'La, La Réunion, FR
2017. What's up Photo Doc, Espace des Blancs Manteaux, Paris, FR
2017. Les fantômes du souk, projection, le 61, février 2017, Paris, FR
2017. VOLT, La countrie, FR
2017. Circulation(s), Le Centquatre, Paris, FR
2016. Festival MAP, Toulouse, FR
2016. Born and Die #001 : Na Zdravlje,  Galerie Arondit, Paris, FR
2016. Born and Die #001 : Na Zdravlje, coffret et multiples, Under Construction Gallery, Paris,FR
2015. Infra- à Échanges de vues, Les Filles du Calvaire, Paris, FR
2015. Infra- à Interstices, Exposition des diplômés de l’ENSP, Chez Agnès B., Paris, FR
2015. Infra- à Olympus engage une conversation photographique, un travail en échange avec Dorothée Smith, Enclos Saint-Césaire, Les Rencontres d’Arles 2015, Arles, FR
2015. «La mêlée», BYOPaper, Nuit de l’année, Papeteries Etienne, Les Rencontres d’Arles 2015, Arles, FR
2015. La part des anges, Église Saint-Julien, Festival off, Rencontres d’Arles 2015, Arles, FR
2015. D’écumes légères, Galerie Arena, Arles, FR
2015. La recherche de l’art #3, Centre des cordeliers, Paris, FR
2015. La recherche de l’art #3, Théâtre de la Faïencerie, Creil, FR
2015. el Atlal, opening exhibition, w/ Valérie Jouve, Basma Alsharif et AAU Anastas, Galerie 28bis, Paris, FR
2014. La recherche de l’art #3, Rencontres d’Arles 2014, FR
2013. Fermer l’œil, Église Saint-Julien, Festival Off, Rencontres d’Arles 2013, FR

BOOKS AND CATALOGUES

2024. Dame Gulizar and Other Love Stories, Blow Up Press
2024. La France sous leurs yeux, Bibliothèque nationale de France
2022. Rouge Insecte, Sometimes Editions
2022. Regards du Grand Paris, Editions Textuel
2022. BMCT Residency
2018. Biennale de l’Image Tangible, Plateforme Editions
2017. Infra-, Classe Moyenne Editions
2017. Busan Photo Festival, catalogue
2017. Circulation(s), le Bec en l’air Editions
2015. Échanges de vue, Filigranes
2015. Les Rencontres d’Arles 2015, Actes Sud
2015. Échappées belles, Diaphane
2014. Les Rencontres d’Arles, Actes Sud
2013. Habana Frikis, self-published

PRIZES AND DISTINCTIONS

2024. Laureate of Frutescens program by Centre photographique Rouen Normandie in the frame of European program FUTURES
2023. Laureate, ADIAF x Katawiki Emergence Prize
2022. Laureate, national commission «Radioscopie de la France», National Library (BNF) and Ministry of Culture
2022.  Shortlist, PH Museum Prize
2022. Laureate, Fénéon Prize
2021. Laureate with Araks Sahakyan for the duo grant «Bourse Transverse»
2021. Laureate, Cnap grant for contemporary documentary photography
2021. Laureate, grant «mécénat» of Fondation des Artistes
2021. Laureate, national commission «Regards du Grand Paris», CNAP and Ateliers Médicis
2021. Shortlist, Virginia Prize
2020. Shortlist residency Fondation de Treilles
2018. Finailist Author book prize, Rencontres d’Arles 
2018. Creation grant, Armenia Art Foundation
2018. Travel grant, STEP Travel, Compagnia di San Paulo
2017. Finalist, Prix Mentor
2017. Selection, Festival Circulation(s)
2014. Creation grant Initiatives Jeunes
2014. Creation grant Défi Jeunes, CROUS
2013. Selection of SPBH 89+, Self Publish Be Happy with the Serpentine Gallery

RESIDENCIES

2024. Borderline Art Space, Iase, RO
2020. Les Essentielles, Gwinzegal, Guingamp, FR
2020. IKSV Istanbul, TR
2018-2019. La Cité Internationale des Arts de Paris, Paris, FR
2018. ACSL Art-Commune, Yerevan, AM
2015. The Independant Air, Silkeborg, DE
2014. La recherche de l’art, INSERM, Paris, FR

SCREENINGS

2017. Slideshow, Busan International Photography Festival, Busan, Korea
2017. Dame Gulizar, slideshow, Jeune Création, Thaddaeus Ropac Pantin, FR
2017. Dame Gulizar, slideshow, galerie Jeune Création, Les Grands Voisins, Paris FR
2017. Dame Gulizar, slideshow, galerie Espace pour l'art, Arles, FR
2017. L'attente l'oubli, projection, Biennale Mulhouse 00, FR
2017. Les fantômes du souk, projection, le 61, février 2017
2015. Barthes is Back, video projection, in collaboration with Aurélie Jacquet, Pierre-Marie Drapeau-Martin, Emilie Saubestre, Anne-Sophie Trischler, curated by Fabien Vallos, for « Barthes is Back », Théâtre d’Arles, Les Rencontres d’Arles 2015
2014. The Situation, projection, Fotoistanbul, Besiktas International Festival of Photography, Istanbul, 2014
2013. Self Publish, Be Happy 89+, projection et zine, dans le cadre du Marathon 89+, Serpentine Gallery, Londres, 2013

CONFERENCES, TALKS, WORKSHOPS (selection)

2023. Aperture  Meet the artists : conversation avec Brendan Embser
2022. Talk with Araks Sahakyan, Salon du livre de Genève
2022. Conversation with Arto Vaun, Project Save
2022. Conference, université de Fouillole University, Guadeloupe
2022. Podcast «Kiffe ta race», Magasins Généraux, Pantin
2021. Roundtable with Pascal Beausse, Regards du Grand Paris, Les Rencontres d’Arles
2020. Roundtable, Lusted Men, Le hasard ludique
2020. Roundtable, Numérique Investigation, Jeu de Paume, Paris
2018.  Conversation, The Eyes, Paris Photo, Le Grand Palais, 11 nov
2018.  Conference, Alliance Française de Erevan, Armenia
2016. JEEP, Festival Circulation(s), le Centquatre
2016. Conférence, EXTRAFORT, Recyclart, Brussels, Belgium
2015. Rencontres Olympus, with Natacha Wolynski, Espace Fanton, Arles


PRESS



RADIO / PODCASTS

2022. Kiffetarace - Regards du Grand Paris
2018. Station Station radio - Démons de minuit
2017.04. Radio Campus
2017.01.19. Radio Neo
2016.10.14 Radio Nova
2016.01.06 Les carnets de la création avec Aude Lavigne sur France Culture - podcast

PRESS PRINT + WEB

2024. Brittish Journal of Photography
2023. Aperture
2023. ArteEast
2022. Al Hayya Magazine
2022. Beaux Arts Magazine
2019. Manifesto XXI, interview by Costanza Spina
2019. Lense, by Costanza Spina
2019. Splash and Grab, article by Hannah Geddes
2018. Lensculture feature and interview with Sophie Wright
2018. ArmenPress
2017. Entretien avec Fabien Ribery
2017. Der Greif: Artist Feature
2017. I-D Vice : 10 photographers
2017. Expo Paris
2017. Interview dans les Amours Alternatives
2015. Lunettes Rouges, « Découvertes : 5 »
2015. Self Publish, Be Happy : portfolio
2014. Self Publish, Be Happy : Book du jour
2014. Interview dans les Amours Alternatives
2015. Noisey FR
2014. Noisey ES
2014. Brain Magazine
2013. Self Publish, Be Happy, SPBH 89+ zine
2013. GQ Italia
2013. Le Tag Parfait
2013. HBA, Webzine de Photographies Argentiques, n° 2
2012. Le Tag Parfait


OTHER ACTIVITIES


Creator of  “Photographers for peace in Artsakh”, a charity prints sale that rose 44k€ in a month for the displaced people of Artsakh : Photographes pour la paix (2020)

Co-founder of artists, writers and researchers residency in Jericho, Palestine : el-Atlal (2014-2020).


EDUCATION



2015. Master equivalent, ENSP Arles, Arles
2010. BA in Philosophy, Paris I - La Sorbonne, Paris
2010. BA in Geography, Paris I - La Sorbonne, Paris
2007-2009. Preparatory Literary Class (first year: hypokhâgne, second year: khâgne) at Lycée Fénelon, Paris

Subscribe to my mailing list :)






 











︎︎︎Previous    Index    Next︎