KENT— Cédric Gairard’s professional life as a creative producer has taken him all over the world, but these days he is focusing some of his artistic energy on his tiny gallery, FotoDiary, located at 3 Old Barn Road.
“I want this to be a space for creative energy,” he said recently of his little shop, which focuses on contemporary photography. Gairard insists that creative work does not have to be a solitary pursuit. “There is no small or big art,” he said. “Everyone can see beauty. I want to create an open space for collaboration.”
In his professional life, he enjoys bringing concepts to fruition. “It can be a long documentary or the next post on TikTok,” he said. “I love concepts.”
And that openness to the creative process carries over into the photographic world. “In the gallery I might help find a photograph that conveys just what the client wants,” he said. “It may not be my photograph; it might be by another artist. Maybe the photograph hasn’t even been taken yet. It might be for homeowners who are leaving a place where they have lived for decades and want a picture that captures their feeling for it. That picture might have to be created—that is the way photography should work.”
Gairard, who was raised in Paris, says his concept is inspired by the Rencontres d’Arles, an annual summer photography festival founded in 1970. It has an international reputation for showing material never before seen by the public. The festival has launched the careers of numerous photographers.
Among those works infrequently seen is Gairard’s own photography. His friend, Terry Crowe Deegan, had previously run Woodford’s market from the space he now occupies. “When she decided she wanted a larger space, I thought it would be an opportunity for me to show my own photographs and those of other photographers,” he said.
Saturday, May 4, he will open “From Stars to Stars,” a contemplative study of light at night’s darkest time inspired by “The Dream Keeper” by Langston Hughes. Gairard’s series of photographs is part of the gallery’s permanent collection and will be on display until May 31.
Throughout his career Gairard has been at the head of art and commercial projects across all media in Paris, Amsterdam, London and New York. He has worked with world-class athletes and celebrities to produce branded content ranging from films to sculpture to music festivals.
“I’ve always been in the shadow of the artists I worked with,” he said. “You’re there to express their vision. It took 30 years of working with all those incredible talents and, finally, this is my moment.”
Still, it’s hard to get him to focus on himself. He looks forward to showcasing the works of other photographers and said he said will be delighted to show the works of the 10 winning photographers in the Kent Chamber of Commerce’s photo contest, submissions for which will close Saturday, May 4.
