Céline Aieta
Céline is a french model, painter and photographer. We talked about her work, what her tattoo bodysuit means to her, why she prefers a painting to a photograph and much more.
Thomas Berlin: Céline, I am happy that we can do this interview. Firstly we are going to talk about you as a model and secondly about your own photography and paintings. But first of all: How would you describe yourself in just a few words?
Céline Aieta: My name is Céline, I’m 35, I’m a full time artist and I live in Paris, France.
Thomas Berlin: Please let us start about your model career: What was the main reason to become a model and how did you start?
Céline Aieta: I was very shy in front of a camera for a long period of time and I guess I finally let my guard down when several photographers enquired about posing for them. But it’s been a long process that came during the making of my body suit.
Thomas Berlin: But now you are very self confident and aware of your body. Was that always the case or did modeling help to achieve that confidence?
Céline Aieta: I have always been confident with nudity and I guess working on my body as a canvas helped me greatly being aware of my body. Modeling has helped for sure achieving confidence.
Thomas Berlin: Is being a model your first job or did you have another job or education before?
Céline Aieta: I have a Master Degree in Communication from Paris-Dauphine University and I worked for six years in various headquarters as a Chief of Communication. I have been a full time artist for the last five years, juggling between my own photography work and professional modeling.
Thomas Berlin: Did you do something creative before modeling?
Céline Aieta: I have always practiced analog photography.
Thomas Berlin: Please tell me a bit more about your first steps as a model.
Céline Aieta: When I was first asked to pose in 2015 my body was considerably changing. I started my bodysuit in 2009 and finished it in 2019. At first I thought it was an interesting way to document my physical evolution. But it quickly became one of my favorite mediums to create and express myself with. What I enjoy the most is taking an idea and making it happen in real life: thinking about a theme, creating the perfect team, choosing a location, accessories, etc. Sharing this passion with other photographers, observing and learning tricks from each of them.
© Thomas Berlin
Thomas Berlin: I would like to continue with your meanwhile full bodysuit tattoo you mentioned. I think it is an important also in your model career. Could you tell me what that means and why you decided to do that?
Céline Aieta: To me it just means I allowed myself to be who I am and live the way I want to!
Thomas Berlin: So you turned your body into an artwork itself. How did you do that and how does that reflect your life and your work?
Céline Aieta: I got my first tattoo when I was 15 but it’s only years later, at 21, that I developed a genuine interest in tattoo culture and decided to get a full body suit. It took me approximately 10 years to achieve it. I used to travel once a month to do a new session. It was a long, painful and full of self-abnegation process but such a powerful journey. At the time, it was way more underground than today. I mean it was rare to meet a person with a bodysuit. Later it became a trend. It’s interesting to see that after using my body as a canvas, I’m now using it as a subject itself through my painted photographs.
© Thomas Berlin
Thomas Berlin: Coming back to modeling. What differentiates a good from a not so good photographer from your models perspective?
Céline Aieta: Besides being professional and having a great eye, communication is key when it comes to the photographer-model work relationship.
Thomas Berlin: How do you handle different photographers and their mentalities? Is that a challenge or do you enjoy it?
Céline Aieta: I love meeting new people with different personalities and creative approaches! I learn from everyone I’m working with.
Thomas Berlin: Could you name a few photographers with very good work in your opinion?
Céline Aieta: Bruno Fabbris, Olivier Valsecchi, Mariano Vargas, Paul Szimak.
Thomas Berlin: What kind of shoots or genres are typical for our business? What are your favourite styles?
Céline Aieta: Artistic nude for sure!
© Thomas Berlin
Thomas Berlin: How do you prepare for a shoot?
Céline Aieta: Full time healthy lifestyle.
Thomas Berlin: Is there typically a difference if the photographer is a male or female, eg in style, behaviour, kindness or so?
Céline Aieta: Honestly I don’t think so. Every person is different.
Thomas Berlin: How important is social media for your success?
Céline Aieta: Social media is the best way to connect with photographers or any person involved in a shooting and it still remains the best open window on my work.
Thomas Berlin: Social media is often very prude. How accepted is nude art in France in general and especially regarding your family & friends?
Céline Aieta: You always have prude people everywhere but I’m lucky to have an open-minded, supportive circle of family and friends.
© Thomas Berlin
Thomas Berlin: Do you remember a funny experience during a shoot?
Céline Aieta: My shooting at the Louvre with Céline Andrea was pretty epic as we didn’t have any authorization to be there so it was a shoot full of adrenaline and laughter.
Thomas Berlin: What advice can you give to potential new models? Or a reason to model or maybe not to model?
Céline Aieta: I would advise new models to have a clear idea of the image they want to project through photography. And to always check photographers background and references to make sure their aesthetics and ethics match their expectations.
Thomas Berlin: What is your advice to photographers how they should treat the model due to achieve a successful shoot?
Céline Aieta: A photographer should always respect his model and make sure everything is fine during the whole shooting. He should be clear about what images he intends to produce and exchange ideas during the shoot. The result is always better when everyone is involved.
© Thomas Berlin
Thomas Berlin: Will you probably model your whole life or do you have already other plans for the future?
Céline Aieta: I honestly have no idea what the future holds for me! My main focus is my own photography practice and I want to make it a priority by exhibiting my most recent works in art events and galeries.
Thomas Berlin: How important is the physical presence of an image due to enjoy art?
CélineAieta: Well, in my opinion you can only truly appreciate a work of art when it’s physically present. The soul of the artist lives in the artwork and it’s possible to feel it.
Thomas Berlin: You are also creating images both as photographs and paintings. How would you describe your images and maybe your mission as a photographer and painter?
© Clara Diebler
Céline Aieta: Nowadays, I mainly paint with a lot of texture on my solarized photographs with gold acrylics and gold leaves. I don’t want to depict reality, I would say it’s very oniric. It’s both a photograph and a painting depending on how you are looking at it. Like a floating world.
Thomas Berlin: Solarization in Paris remind me of May Ray and Lee Miller. How important is French photographic history and surrealism as inspiration for you?
Céline Aieta: I started solarization as a tribute to Lee Miller and Man Ray. I added my own twist to it. I love surrealism in all its forms. I enjoyed very much reading André Breton, watching Bunuel movies, looking at Dora Maar’s photography work and collages. This is endless… Paris is a dream for an artist.
Thomas Berlin: Could you describe your first steps regarding photography and painting? How did you learn to paint and to photograph?
Céline Aieta: I have started analog photography at a very early age thanks to my father who is also an artist and photographer. He taught me all the basic techniques. I got my first camera when I was 6 and I have never stopped shooting film since then. As far as painting I’m self-taught.
Thomas Berlin: Who are your role models?
Céline Aieta: I have so many inspirations but to name some of my role models in Art : Suzanne Valadon, Sonia Delaunay, Anna Eva Bergman, Lee Miller.
© Céline Aieta
Thomas Berlin: In which cases do you prefer a painting over a photo and vice versa?
Céline Aieta: I will always prefer a painting over a photograph. In my opinion it conveys so much more emotions.
Thomas Berlin: You are also doing self portraits, I think more than model shots as far as I saw your work. Why self portraits and what did you learn about yourself and your body?
Céline Aieta: I have always enjoyed shooting portraits of other people. After years modeling for photographers it made sense to try self-portraits at some point. This is how my series “Corps Aurifère“ was born. I merged all my practices into one: photography, painting, modeling. This series is my most personal one.
Thomas Berlin: How would you describe your approach as a photographer? How can I imagine how you handle your model shoots?
Céline Aieta: I’m a bit like Gisèle Freund. I like people to feel at ease and forget I’m behind the camera. My favorite images are stolen moments.
Thomas Berlin: How do you deal with light? Do you also use artificial light in your photography?
Céline Aieta: When working in analog indoor I use artificial light but I always use natural light for outdoor shoots or when using digital.
Thomas Berlin: You are shooting both analogously and digitally. Why both? And what is your camera and lens you use mostly?
Céline Aieta: I have a Contax G1 with a Carl Zeiss 45mm lens and a Canon EOS5D with a 35mm lens. I started with analog and I like that everything is manual. The work approach is totally different too. I also enjoy shooting with my Polaroid SX-70. I guess I’m just very nostalgic!
© Céline Aieta
Thomas Berlin: What is a good photo? On the one hand from your models perspective and on the other hand from your photographers or painters perspective.
Céline Aieta: If a photo is good it should be good from all points of view. The light, the frame are important but how the subject is depicted too. I feel like a photo is good when it’s beautiful and makes you feel emotions when looking at it.
Thomas Berlin: You are traveling internationally. Which countries or cities impressed you most?
Céline Aieta: Asia is my most beloved continent. Probably because I have been travelling there since I’m a child. I feel at ease and more in harmony than in Europe. Even though Europe and the USA are some fun playgrounds too!
Thomas Berlin: What are your plans for the future?
Céline Aieta: I’m exhibiting several new images from “Corps Aurifère“ at Imagenation taking place in Paris, November 10-11-12, Galerie Joseph le Palais.
Thomas Berlin: After so many insights about your photography activities I am curious if you also have a passion outside the photo or art scene?
Céline Aieta: My whole life revolves around art but I’m passionate about so many other things like history, litterature or martial arts.
Thomas Berlin: Céline, thank you very much for this interview. Is there anything else you would like to say?
Céline Aieta: Thank you Thomas for having me! Being an artist is both the most beautiful and the toughest job. Every bit of help or encouragement is always welcome!
Find Céline on Instagram.
More paintings and solarisations by Céline Aieta:
