The "EKATERINA" Cultural Foundation presents an exhibition of photographs by the Monégasque photographer Olivier Jude. This author's project dedicated to underwater photography will continue a long tradition of cultural exchange between the "EKATERINA" Foundation and artistic institutions in Monaco.

In 2004, in Monaco, the "EKATERINA" Foundation presented a grand exhibition of the "Valet de carreau," and a few years later, in collaboration with the New National Museum of Monaco, it carried out a project dedicated to Sergei Diaghilev and the history of the Russian ballets in France.

In 2008, the exhibition "The Grace Kelly Era: Princess of Monaco" was successfully held in the halls of the Foundation, prepared in collaboration with the Grimaldi Forum.

En 2015 la Fondation en collaboration avec Parkview Arts Action et le Musée Océanographique de Monaco a présenté à Moscou un projet ambitieux international «On Sharks & Humanity» («Sur les requins et l’humanité») – une exposition d’art contemporain chinois consacrée au problème de la protection de l’Océan Mondial et de la population des requins.

L’activité des dirigeants de la Fondation Ekaterina et Vladimir Semenikhin – les Chevaliers de l’Ordre de Saint-Charles est axée sur une nouvelle extension des liens culturels entre la Principauté de Monaco et la Russie. Le projet d’exposition «La Femme et la Plongée» représente non seulement les oeuvres d’un photographe éminent mais permet aussi de découvrir l’univers sous-marin unique de l’Océan Mondial.

Olivier Jude was born in Monaco in 1966. Inspired by the Mediterranean Sea from a young age, he became a member of the Monégasque Federation of Underwater Activities in 1989. "I was born in the water, and I have always been drawn to marine life since my childhood and adolescence," he says, explaining his passion for photography and scuba diving. An active member of the diving club and a renowned photographer, Olivier Jude represents Monaco in international underwater photography competitions. His photographs, taken with modern digital technologies, reveal the unique beauty of the underwater world.

Underwater photography presents a number of specific characteristics. The photographer must work in various weather conditions, affecting both visibility and the texture of the landscape itself. Immersion at great depths lasts only a few minutes; during this time, one must choose the right angle for shooting and the right composition, adjust the camera and the position of the flashes. In addition to deep-sea objects, Olivier Jude likes to use the "Half-in, Half-out" technique, where the composition of the image is divided into two parts: the sea and the sky reflecting in the water.

Olivier Jude does not retouch photos using Photoshop or digital editing; each image is captured "in a single shot," with all colors being as natural and saturated as possible. The photographs presented at the exhibition were created in collaboration with Sylvie Laurent, a consistent model and partner of the artist. The presence of the model in the underwater world is fascinating, giving the composition a new artistic emphasis, imbued with a sense of freedom and weightlessness, as well as natural and mysterious beauty.

Sylvie poses in costumes specially adapted for each dive, which play a significant role in the overall artistic decision of the image. The costumes are designed and made by the photographer's wife, Valérie Jude, a designer specializing in lycra and creations for dance and ballet bodies. By using various lighting devices and harnessing the potential of the sun, Olivier Jude seeks to convey the unique atmosphere and perpetual movement of the underwater world.

Working on joint projects, Olivier Jude and Sylvie Laurent have explored various regions of the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, dived to the depths of the Indian Ocean, but the coastal waters of Monaco still attract the artist. "Monaco has its own unique marine treasures, I keep saying it, and today I am pleased to demonstrate to all sea enthusiasts, divers, and artists of all kinds, that our marine environment is unique and still very rich," says Olivier.

The photographer is particularly interested in the marine life beneath the semi-floating breakwater that protects Monaco's bay from swells. Over time, a special microclimate has formed beneath this extremely complex engineering structure. Olivier has been observing the evolution of marine life under the breakwater for over ten years. "We decided to start a series of photographs to showcase the richness of marine life under the breakwater. Flora has attached itself to the links, and the oxidation of the metal gives an orange color, which is actually the complementary color of the Mediterranean blue. We understand that there is already an artistic interest in diving under the breakwater, just because of these color effects. We also discover an unsuspected fauna with hundreds of anthias swirling around the links, amidst colorful bryozoans, a type of moss or lichen commonly known as Sea Rose in the Mediterranean. What is incredible for us is to see the number and size of the anthias! It feels like being in a wreck or a cave," recounts the photographer.

In January 2018, during the International Dive Show in Paris, Olivier Jude and Sylvie Laurent participated in the underwater photography competition organized to celebrate the 20th anniversary of this prestigious event in Paris. Out of 4867 photographs submitted, they managed to secure the 3rd Prize on the theme "Woman and Diving" with a series of photos taken in the Mediterranean at Antibes, near the Phare de la Fourmigue. As a result, the author received an invitation to showcase their work at the "EKATERINA" Cultural Foundation. The exhibition will feature series of photographs taken by Olivier Jude with Sylvie Laurent in the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, the Mediterranean, and also in the bay of Monaco.