ABOUT
Joel Odesser is a French visual artist and photographer currently based in Hong Kong. His passion was rooted in early childhood, having grown up in a family of photographers. His grandfather, Henri Odesser, established his studio in the region of Annecy, France.
As he settled over time in Europe, North America, South America and Asia, his photographic eye and expression were shaped along the way by witnessing first-hand a wide range of cultures, lifestyles, habits and social contrasts.
He believes that Photography is a useful tool to document human diversity. It has the power to record how people of different background, culture, religion, ethnicity, age and gender compose our most cosmopolitan cities across the globe and make them truly vibrant. In return, cities shape our experiences, identities and interactions. Naturally, urban life became his primary artistic subject focus.
He chooses to emphasize social contrasts, the abstract beauty lying in nature embedded within cities, as well as saturated and textured urban environments. Collage techniques of overlapping photographs help him express these subtle relationships.
You may download his latest project statement and artist resume here.
AWARDS
2023
Honorable Mention - TOKYO INTERNATIONAL FOTO AWARDS (TIFA) competition - Fine Art, Collage [LINK][PDF]
2022
Silver - MOSCOW INTERNATIONAL FOTO AWARDS (MIFA) competition - Fine Art, Collage [LINK][PDF]
Official Selection & Honorable Mention - INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS (IPA) competition - Fine Art, Collage [LINK][PDF]
Official Selection & Honorable Mention - TOKYO INTERNATIONAL FOTO AWARDS (TIFA) competition - Fine Art, Collage [LINK][PDF]
Honorable Mention - BUDAPEST INTERNATIONAL FOTO AWARDS (BIFA) competition - Fine Art, Collage [LINK][PDF]
Official Selection - LONDON INTERNATIONAL CREATIVE COMPETITION (LICC) competition - Fine Art, Collage [LINK]
2021
Official Selection & Honorable Mention - TOKYO INTERNATIONAL FOTO AWARDS (TIFA) competition - Fine Art, Collage [LINK][PDF]
Silver - BUDAPEST INTERNATIONAL FOTO AWARDS (BIFA) competition - Fine Art, Collage [LINK][PDF]
Bronze - INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS (IPA) competition - Fine Art, Collage [LINK][PDF]
2020
Bronze - PRIX DE LA PHOTOGRAPHIE PARIS AWARDS (PX3) competition - Special, Street Photography [LINK][PDF]
Shortlist Top 20 - LONDON INTERNATIONAL CREATIVE COMPETITION (LICC) competition - Create, Art [LINK][PDF]
Honorable Mention - TOKYO INTERNATIONAL FOTO AWARDS (TIFA) competition - Editorial, Photo Essay [LINK][PDF]
Honorable Mention - MOSCOW INTERNATIONAL FOTO AWARDS (MIFA) competition - Editorial, Conflict [LINK][PDF]
Honorable Mention - BUDAPEST INTERNATIONAL FOTO AWARDS (BIFA) competition - People, Life style [LINK][PDF]
2017
Silver - PRIX DE LA PHOTOGRAPHIE PARIS AWARDS (PX3) competition - Book Proposal, Nature [LINK][PDF]
Bronze - MOSCOW INTERNATIONAL FOTO AWARDS (MIFA) 2017 competition - Science, Environment [LINK][PDF]
2016
Silver - TOKYO INTERNATIONAL FOTO AWARDS (TIFA) 2016 competition - Science, Environment [LINK][PDF]
Bronze - TOKYO INTERNATIONAL FOTO AWARDS (TIFA) 2016 competition - Editorial, Environmental [LINK][PDF]
2015
Honorable Mention - PRIX DE LA PHOTOGRAPHIE PARIS AWARDS (PX3) competition - Press/Travel/Tourism [LINK][PDF]
2014
First price - ALLIANCE FRANCAISE DE HONG KONG photo competition "On joue sur la terre" ("Games on Earth")
2010
Honorable Mention - INTERNATIONAL PHOTO AWARDS (IPA) competition - Nature, Trees [LINK][PDF]
PRESS ARTICLES
2023
THE STANDARD, Hong Kong - Article for Urban Pop Odyssey [URL]
LA FRENCH RADIO, Hong KongUrban Pop Odyssey, Podcast [URL]
LE FRENCH MAY ARTS FESTIVAL, Hong Kong - Brochure for Urban Pop Odyssey [URL]
LE PETIT JOURNAL, Hong Kong - Interview for Urban Pop Odyssey [URL]
CULTURE PLUS, Hong Kong Urban Pop Odyssey [URL]
KLOOK, Hong Kong Urban Pop Odyssey [URL]
GALLERIES GAL, Hong Kong Urban Pop Odyssey [URL]
2017
STAY TUNED HK, Hong Kong - Interview for Affordable Art Fair HK 2017 [URL]
2015
ARTERIA GALLERY, Bromont, Canada - Affordable Art Fair Singapore newsletter (7 frames) [URL]
GALLERIA 360, Florence, Italy - Summer Art Florence brochure (6 frames) [URL]
LENSCULTURE, Paris - "Emerging Talent Awards 2015" [URL]
2014
PAROLES, Alliance Française, Hong Kong - Gagnant du concours photo "On joue sur la terre"
HONG WRONG, Hong Kong - Occupy Central by Daniel Garrett & Joel Odesser [URL]
2013
KIOSK, Hong Kong - "Behind the Scenes" - Event and Interview [URL EVENT][URL INTERVIEW]
ARTMAP, Hong Kong - "Behind the Scenes" [URL]
BOOKAZINE, Hong Kong - "Behind the Scenes" [URL]
LE PETIT JOURNAL, Hong Kong - "Behind the Scenes" [URL]
48H (SCMP), Hong Kong - "Behind the Scenes" listing
TRAIT D'UNION, Hong Kong - "Behind the Scenes" agenda
LOCALIIZ, Hong Kong - "Behind the Scenes" of the City [URL]
HONG KONG MADAME, Hong Kong - "Behind the Scenes"[URL EN][URL FR]
YEW CHUNG INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, Hong Kong - "Behind the Scenes" [URL]
THE STANDARD, Hong Kong - "Forget glamour, just look at the backstreets" [URL]
HK MAGAZINE, Hong Kong - "Behind the Scenes: Joel Odesser" [URL]
SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, Hong Kong - "Behind the Scenes" listing
TIMEOUT, Hong Kong - "Behind the Scenes" [URL]
HONG WRONG, Hong Kong - "Joel Odesser's Hong Kong: Behind the Scenes" [URL]
THE REAL DEAL By Jason Y.Ng, Hong Kong - "Behind the Scenes by Joel Odesser" [URL]
THE HOUSE NEWS, Hong Kong - "Behind the Scenes" listing [URL]
ALLIANCE FRANCAISE, Hong Kong - "Arrière-Plan: Photography Exhibition" [URL]
2012
YEW CHUNG INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, Hong Kong - 12-Hour Art Day [URL]
ARTEMISS CONTEMPORARY, Singapore - "The Urban Muse in Singapore" [URL]
EVENTFUL, Singapore - "The Grand Opening of the new art gallery Artemiss Contemporary" [URL]
EXPAT LIVING, Singapore - "Art Exhibition Opening: The Urban Muse" [URL]
ART MEDIA AGENCY, Singapore - "Artemiss Contemporary: the nomadic gallery" [URL]
GREAT NEW PLACES, Singapore - "Arts & Culture: Artemiss Contemporary" [URL]
COME SINGAPORE, Singapore - "Grand Opening of the new art gallery Artemiss Contemporary" [URL]
2011
HONG KONG MADAME, Hong Kong - "Artemiss Contemporary au profit du Japon" [URL]
SOCIETE GENERALE, Hong Kong - "Hidden Talents" interview
2010
TOKYO ARTBEAT, Japan - Artemiss Contemporary Shared Exhibition [URL]
TRAIT D'UNION, Hong Kong - Exhibitions
TRAIT D'UNION, Hong Kong - Photos
SOCIETE GENERALE, Paris - Internal Communication
2009
LE PETIT JOURNAL, Hong Kong - Interview [URL]
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023
URBAN POP ODYSSEY - Dualities of Metropolitan Life, Artaflo Collective Gallery, Hong Kong (9 frames)
2015
PAN-ASIA - Florence, Italy, Galleria360 for Summer Art Florence (6 frames)
2013
BEHIND THE SCENES, and HONG KONG LIVES & LIGHTS - Hong Kong, Yew Chung International School (16 frames)
ARRIERE-PLAN and HONG KONG LIVES & LIGHTS - Hong Kong, Alliance Française (14 frames)
2011
HONG KONG LIVES - Hong Kong, Admiralty, Pacific Place Three - Permanent Collection for Société Générale Hong Kong Branch (9 frames)
2010
OPPOSITE WORLDS - Hong Kong, Central, Sense 99 Lounge (20 frames)
2009
OPPOSITE WORLDS - Hong Kong, Central, Gecko Lounge (20 frames)
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023
AFFORDABLE ART FAIR 2023, Hong Kong
AFFORDABLE ART FAIR 2023, Shanghai
ART AMOY INTERNATIONAL ART FAIR 2023, Xiamen, Fujian, China
2017
AFFORDABLE ART FAIR 2017, Hong Kong
AFFORDABLE ART FAIR 2017, New York
L.A ART SHOW, Los Angeles
ART WYNWOOD, Miami
2016
AFFORDABLE ART FAIR 2016, London Hampstead
AFFORDABLE ART FAIR 2016, Hong Kong
AFFORDABLE ART FAIR 2016, New York City
2015
AFFORDABLE ART FAIR, Singapore (6 frames)
2014
OPEN DOORS, OPEN MINDS - Hong Kong, Chai Wan Mei Festival at Puerta Del Sol (7 frames)
2012
THE URBAN MUSE - Singapore, Artemiss Contemporary
2010
THE URBAN MUSE - Tokyo, Artemiss Contemporary (3 frames)
NEW YORK SERIES - Hong Kong, Sheung Wan, Kenneth Leung Gallery (12 frames)
CONTRASTING CHINA - Hong Kong, Repulse Bay, Artemiss Contemporary (8 frames)
SOCIETE GENERALE ART AUCTION FOR CHARITY - Hong Kong, Admiralty, Pacific Place Three (8 frames)
THE TEN MOST OF HK - Hong Kong, Stanley, Clémentine De Forton (3 frames)