Today, 10th November 2022, photographer Michael Kenna has been awarded the decoration of Officer of The Order of Arts and Letters by the French Ministry of Culture, which rewards people who have distinguished themselves through their creation in the artistic or literary field, in France and throughout the world.
The ceremony was performed in Paris by France’s culture minister, Rima Abdul Malak who also announced the donation of Kenna’s life archive to be housed by the French state at the Mediatheque de Photographie et Patrimoine in Montigny-le Bretonneux.
Homage To Atget, Parc De Sceaux, Paris, France 1988 by Michael Kenna
The donation includes 3,683 original silver gelatin photographic prints of images made in 43 different countries, along with accompanying negatives and scans, 175,000 other negatives accompanied by their corresponding contact sheets, 6,422 working prints from the years 1983-2000, 1,280 Polaroid prints, 87 books and monographs and all archives relating to Kenna’s artistic activity for the past 50 years.
Kenna, absolutely delighted and extremely proud to receive such a distinguished award, said “I have had a love affair with France since the very beginning of my career.”
Pont Neuf, Merci Brassai, Paris, France, 1992 by Michael Kenna
"Looking objectively, France is the country where I have photographed most and there are more photographs from France in the donation than from any other country.
Also, the 300 prints and 6,000 negatives from the Concentration Camp project (recorded in the book Impossible to Forget: The Nazi Camps Fifty Years After, Nazraeli Press 2001) made between 1988-2000 were donated to France over two decades ago.
It was important to me that my whole archive would be situated in one place and it is very comforting to know that my work will now rest alongside the oeuvres of photographers that I love and admire, such as Jacques Henri Lartigue (1894-1986), André Kertesz (1894-1985), Willy Ronis (1910-2009) and others.
I am enormously appreciative that the Médiatheque de Photographie et Patrimoine has accepted my work and will help to protect it against the ravages of time.”
Mont St. Michel, France 1991 by Michael Kenna
Kenna has retained complete, full and unrestricted usage rights during his lifetime.
"The negatives will only be transferred on my death,” he said. “In most respects, nothing has changed, except I now have great peace of mind for myself and my heirs that I will not be leaving behind a messy mountain of prints and negatives when I eventually fly with the angels.
For the foreseeable future, I hope and trust that it will be ‘business as usual’ for Michael Kenna Photography.”
Michael Kenna being awarded the Officer of The Order Of The Arts And Letters in Paris on 10th November 2022 by France's Ministry of Culture, Rima Abdul Malak
Michael Kenna was educated at St. Joseph’s College, Upholland, Lancashire 1964-72, The Banbury School of Art, Oxfordshire 1972-73, and The London College of Printing 1973-76. He moved to America in 1977 where he lived first in San Francisco and later in Seattle. Kenna continues to make every one of his silver gelatin prints himself in his darkroom at his home.
Kenna’s work has been shown in numerous gallery and museum exhibitions in Europe, the US and Asia (to date he has held over 500 solo exhibitions) and is included in a vast number of permanent collections, notably The National Gallery in Washington, The Patrimoine Photographique in Paris, The Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague and The Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
One of the most exhibited and collected photographers working today, Kenna enjoys a truly global audience for his work. One of Kenna’s most ardent fans is Sir Elton John who wrote the preface to his 2013 book ‘A Journey Through Asia’, and who has built a substantial collection of Kenna’s work.
“Elegant. Serene. Meditative. This is why I was first attracted to Michael Kenna’s work. Since the early 1990s, I have built a substantial collection of his photographic prints. I am still captivated by the mystery of his night images and the sophisticated simplicity of his landscapes. One also has to admire his personal dedication to the fine craft of making flawless, impeccable prints. Like Kenna, I am drawn to the brilliant work of Bill Brandt (1904-1983), Josef Sudek (1896-1976), Alfred Stieglitz (1864-1946) and Harry Callahan (1912-1999). The influence of these artists, along with his own interpretive style, creates a brilliant serenity that captivates me with every image.” Sir Elton John, 2013
