Qui êtes vous, Eadweard Muybridge

Eadweard Muybridge’s pioneering work and research concerning photography and motion pictures remains legendary up to today.  Inventor of the zoopraxiscope, a method of projecting animated versions of photographs as short moving sequences, he created a series of internationally acclaimed images capturing humans and animals in motion.  Muybridge influenced artists like Marcel Duchamp and Francis Bacon, to name but a few, whereas a few years ago Tate Britain held a unique exhibition dedicated to his ingenious work.

Qui êtes vous, Gertrude Stein?

Gertrude Stein constituted a distinguished, influential figure of the arts world of the 20th century. Her house in 27 rue de Fleurus, in Paris, which she shared with her lifelong companion Alice B. Toklas, became a meeting point for the “new moderns” movement of the time i.e. writers, poets and artists like Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce, Ezra Pound, Guillaume Apollinaire, Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso. Stein was an unconventional, dynamic literary icon and a renowned advocate of the avant-garde; among her most inspiring works are "The Making of Americans", "How to Write" and "Stanzas in Meditation and Other Poems".

 

Qui êtes-vous, Goons?

The Goons, that is to say Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan, were the cast members of the popular British radio programme called the Goon Show. The programme was broadcast through BBC’s networks during the 50s and until 1960. Their shows, which included surreal humour, satire, catchphrases and strange sound effects, have been a major influence for the Monty Python group and the Beatles among other artists.

Qui êtes-vous, Emmeline Pankhurst?

One of the most noted activists and suffragettes of all time was Emmeline Pankhurst. Born in the late 1850s in UK she fought for the women’s right to vote and finally achieved it. Although she has received wide criticism for her violent tactics, her position during the WWI and her later on cooperation with the British Conservative party she undoubtedly remains one of the first advocates of women's rights.

Qui êtes-vous, Pizzicato Five?

Pizzicato Five was a Japanese band that originated in the 80s. The group soon gained worldwide popularity and helped to spread the shibuy-kei genre of Japanese pop – a mixture of jazz, pop and electropop- all over the world. They have created a vast amount of albums and singles and are greatly influenced by the 60s pop culture, music and fashion, which is evident in their music as well as image. After a number of changes in their original composure, the final synthesis of the group consisted of Nomiya Maki and Konishi Yasuharu. Their last album was entitled “Çà et là du Japon” and it was released in 2001, the year the group split up.

Qui êtes-vous, Lupin the Third?

Kazuhiko Kato, known under the nickname Monkey Punch, is the creator of the popular Japanese cult manga and anime "Lupin the Third". The stories of Lupin the Third evolve around the adventures of Arsene Lupin III, a young, sharply dressed thief and leader of a notorious gang of criminals. The manga originated in the 60s and soon the anime followed. Since then Lupin the Third has achieved worldwide acknowledgement.

Qui êtes-vous, Lalo Schifrin

The 1966 album entitled “The Dissection and Reconstruction of Music From the Past as Performed By the Inmates of Lalo Schifrin's Demented Ensemble as a Tribute to the Memory of the Marquis De Sade” constitutes a successful music experiment performed by Lalo Schifrin. The Argentinian composer and conductor did not hesitate to combine jazz with 18th century classical themes and managed so exceptionally. Renown also for his film scores (“Dirty Harry”, “Cool Hand Luke”, “Bullitt”, “Mission Impossible”) Lalo Schifrin has worked with Havier Cugar’s orchestra and never seized to search for ways to creatively mingle classical music with jazz.

Qui êtes-vous, Teddy Girls?

In 1955 director Ken Russell captures a bunch of Teddy Girls from the suburbs of London using his photo camera. Those women, the female equivalent of the Teddy Boys, acquired a daring sense of neo Edwardian, androgynous style and attitude. Usually of a working class background, they rejected post-war austerity and constituted the first British female tribe.

Qui êtes-vous, Harold Lloyd?

Harold Clayton Lloyd was an American film comedian popular from his silent films in the beginning of the 20th century. Lloyd appears in one of the most iconic images in cinema history hanging from the hands of a clock above a highway in the movie “Safety Last!”. He portrayed various characters, like Lonesome Luke and the Glasses character, or the Boy, during his prolific cinematic career and he is considered one of the best silent film actors of all time.

Qui êtes-vous, Kiki de Montparnasse?

Kiki de Montparnasse was the pseudonym of Alice Ernestine Prin, an artist model, actress, nightclub singer and painter from France. Raised by her impoverished grandmother she started posing nude for artists in the 1920s and soon became a popular artist model in the Montparnasse social scene known with the nickname “Kiki”. She posed for Francis Picabia, Jean Cocteau, Arno Breker, Alexander Calder, Per Krohg, Mouse Kisling, among others, and was the companion of Man Ray. She also appeared in quite a few experimental short films like Fernand Léger's “Ballet Mécanique”. A symbol and muse for the art société of Montparnasse in the beginning of the 20th century she is indicated as one of the first truly independent women by her biographers.

Qui êtes-vous, Baron Rogers of Riverside?

Richard George Rogers is a British architect also known under the title of nobility "Baron Rogers of Riverside". Among his most famous works are the Lloyd's building and Millennium Dome in London and the Pompidou Centre in Paris. He is renowned for his modernist, futuristic and functionalist architectural designs and has been awarded with the RIBA Stirling Prize, the RIBA Gold Medal, the Minerva Medal and Pritzker Prize among others.

Qui êtes-vous, Peggy Moffitt?

Peggy Moffitt, born in California, has been a famous fashion model and icon from the 60’s. Originally known as the muse of designer Rudi Gernreich she became popular for her unique sense of style, make up and “five point” haircut. Besides being a model she pursued a career on the big screen and held parts in films like You're Never Too Young (1955), Senior Prom (1958), Qui êtes-vous, Polly Magoo? (1966) and Blow Up (1966). In 2003 Comme des Garçons founder and designer Rei Kawakubo collaborated with Peggy Moffitt for the Moffitt line, a successful fashion project inspired by Gernreich's most iconic designs.

Qui êtes-vous, Purita Campos?

Purita Campos is a Spanish comics artist. She is world famous for her girl comics originally created in the 60s and 70s. One of her most famous character is Esther, the teen protagonist of the story “Esther y su mundo”. In other countries, Esther is known under the name Patty, whereas her adventures are entitled “Patty’s World”. In February 2010 Purita Campos received “The Gold Medal of Merit in Fine Arts” by the Spanish Ministry of Culture.

Qui êtes-vous, Monsieur Hulot?

Monsieur Hulot is a famous French film character who originated in the 50’s. It was created by French director and actor Jacques Tati who also held the role of Monsieur Hulot in the films “Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot”, “Mon Oncle”, “Playtime” and “Trafic”. Monsieur Hulot is an amicable, dreamy character with distinctive look including a pipe, a hat and a raincoat. Fond of simplicity, nature and a retro lifestyle Monsieur Hulot can not cope with technology and gadgets. He lives in the most adorable attic house and loves to ride his bike. Monsieur Hulot’s films are an ode to humanity and eccentricity adorned with great aesthetics. The particular character had a great effect in certain works of artists like François Truffaut, Sylvain Chomet and Rowan Atkinson. Jacques Tati’s series of films dedicated to Monsieur Hulot have received academy nominations and awards as well as recognition in Cannes and by the New York Film Critics Circle.

Qui êtes vous, Jeanne Moreau?

Jeanne Moreau is a French actress but of english origin. She has been nominated and awarded for her performances several times (César Awards, BAFTA Awards, Cannes). She held main parts in distinguished films like François Truffaut’s “Jules et Jim” and “La Mariée était en noir”, Michelangelo Antonioni’s “La notte”, Luis Buñuel’s “Le journal d'une femme de chamber”, Elia Kazan’s “The Last Tycoon”, Theodoros Angelopoulos’s “The Suspended Step of the Stork” and Wim Wenders’ “Until the End of the World”. She was one of Orson Welles favourite actresses participating in a lot of his films. Jeanne Moreau has also been involved in scriptwriting and directing and she is one of main members of the Théâtre-Français. She is considered one of the most accomplished and multitalented actresses of France.