Emmanuelle L̩onard investigates those who investigate. In her series titled Police, currently on show at Galerie Donald Browne, L̩onard turns photographic evidence into photography, examining the space between documentation and portraiture, between cold, hard evidence and emotional response. Her series of large photographic portraits of police officers titled Les citoyens, manifestation, 15 mars 2009 is particularly moving. These police officers, anonymous except for the badge numbers printed on their helmets, look like tired heroes Рthere is a palpable sadness in their eyes, they appear visibly affected by their work, scarred by their experiences. The images reveal the human face behind the uniform.

In stark contrast to these portraits is the box of police photographs (Homicide), displayed like a series of art prints in an elegant linen-covered box. These black and white images served their purpose as objective documentations of a crime scene (scanned from closed SQ cases). They are devoid of any pathos. But even here, a second look reveals the blood spatter and the smeared walls, and the horror of the scene slowly penetrates the clinical veneer.

Finally, the video La Motivation documents interviews with young, enthusiastic, Finnish police cadets. Still filled with idealism and as yet untouched by the dark reality of their work, they talk about their future as police officers in carefully measured language. My guess is that they will, in a few years, turn into the exhausted storm troopers captured in Les citoyens.

Galerie Donald Browne
space 528
Emmanuelle Léonard
Police
March 27 – May 1, 2010
www.galeriedonaldbrowne.com