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Like many people, photographerNicolas Brunois enthralled by tarot cards.
Bruno began his tarot card photography by referring to his portfolio of surreal imagery.
This conceptual approach to his photographs allowed for an easy transition into recreating the classicRider Waite tarot deck.
The High Priestess
The Somnia Tarotis now on display at theHaven Galleryin Northport, New York, until March 21, 2021.
We spoke more with Bruno about this seriesincluding the logistics of creating it entirely during the coronavirus.
Scroll down for our exclusive interview.
The Hanged Man
The High Priestess
What was the inspiration for this project?
To my knowledge, this is one of the first representations of the entire tarot through conceptual photography.
Where did your interest in tarot cards come from?
Temperance
The basement had a storage room, and I stumbled across my great-grandmothers tarot deck.
During high school and college, I was exposed to the tarot again through my friends.
I loved the style of imagery that it portrayed.
The Tower
The Hanged Man
How would you say the coronavirus quarantine informed your photography?
When quarantine began, the majority of art world business came to a grinding halt.
I knew that I needed to continue creating for keep my spirits up.
The Devil
Every day, I woke up and put 100% of my efforts into developing this series.
Temperance
This is an ambitious project with 78 images.
Logistically, how did you produce this series?
Six of Swords
I spent an entire month studying the tarot meanings and the Jungian psychology analysis of each card.
During the research, I kept a huge sketchpad and began drawing out concepts for each piece.
After I completed my final sketches for each piece, I began creating props and costumes.
The Star
I planned each shoot day to include up to three images.
Even if one of the concepts failed, I would still have images to come home with.
Limiting the models to myself and close individuals made the project efficient and COVID-safe.
How long did it take overall?
My planning and scheduling allowed me to finish the final image in early December 2020.
This was the largest and most challenging project that I have ever taken on.
The Tower
Is there one card that is particularly memorable for you?
The most memorable image that I shot wasThe Tower.
This was one of the first images that I shot for the series.
My photography often puts me into difficult situations, and I always feel liberated after completing each challenging concept.
What kind of parallels can viewers find with your tarot cards and your sleep-focused series?
Through this series, the characters and symbols within mySleep Paralysisimagery tell the story of each tarot card.
Six of Swords
What can viewers expect when they see your exhibition?
I hope to immerse my viewers in the story of the classic tarot in an entirely new way.
What’s on the horizon for you?
Anything exciting it’s possible for you to tell us about?
There will be a new video documentary on my artwork and process coming out in late April.
All of my upcoming projects and pieces will be shared on myInstagram.
