Phoenix, a collection of 23 photographs by Australian artist Vee Speers, is an haunting exploration of warrior women, inspired by the legend of the Phoenix. Poised as they reconcile their past, the women are contemplative, melancholic yet defiant, turning towards the future as they reflect upon the ghosts of their untold stories.

Never afraid to push the boundaries, Speers takes us on an emotional journey with painterly photographs that are at once nostalgic and contemporary.  Botanical backdrops are inspired by Speers’ youth in Queensland, and reference the lush, dense vegetation, mangrove swamps and smoky, burning cane fields of Northern Australia.  Phoenix is a story of the quest for recognition and renewed identity, crossing frontiers with courage, strength and determination.

“Like some kind of illusion that seems suspended in the memories of a dramatic event, hope rises like a phoenix from the ashes, forging a path in a brave new world.” At once powerful and vulnerable, Speers’ portraits are timeless symbols of transformation loss to renaissance. The women of Phoenix, styled against the backdrop of an imperfect world,  are imbued with a sense of both vulnerability and great strength.

This photographic collection will be exhibited by Valerie-Anne Giscard d’Estaing at the Galerie XII, Paris, in June, 2021.   Valerie-Anne, the daughter of former French President Valery Giscard d’Estaing, founded her first book publishing company, Compagnie12, in the 1980s. Named after her lucky number, the company published hundreds of illustrated books before expanding its scope to the management of photographers’ archives under the Photo12 brand. In what seemed like a natural evolution, Galerie Photo12 opened its doors in Paris in 2007 before moving to its current location in Le Marais in 2010. Since its conception, the gallery has received critical acclaim and presents six solo exhibitions a year, while also participating in multiple internationally renowned art fairs.