“I started my musical training at the age of 5 and the piano became an integral part of my life, says the photographer Romain Thiery. Although I am not a professional pianist, I am a devoted lover of this instrument, fueled by a deep and unwavering passion. One day, returning from a long trip to Asia, my mother, who had embarked on a photographic project on the ruins of our native region, invited me to accompany her to explore an abandoned house.
In front of this house, I was amazed by its decrepit beauty and surprised to find the door wide open. Forcing a door swollen with humidity, I made an extraordinary discovery: a piano! I couldn’t believe my eyes. My instrument was there, abandoned, left to the wear and tear of time. A wave of emotion invaded me, strangely reassuring me. How could one leave a piano behind? I didn’t understand. Yet, it was there, in this room where the fireplace and the noble materials had already been plundered, but not the piano.”
Requiem pour pianos 7France, 2016. | Romain Thiery
“This is how the idea of starting a project on abandoned pianos took shape. I finally found a way to combine my two greatest passions, music and photography, into a single project that I called “Requiem pour pianos”.
Located in northern France, this Érard piano curiously survived a fire. This castle, dating from the 14th centurye century, is currently under renovation and the piano is missing. This photograph perfectly embodies the essence of my artistic work. It captures the harmony between a luxurious environment, an appreciation for art objects and the emotion that emanates from this piano, standing, defying the relentless passage of time. For me, this scene is emblematic of my photographic approach, evoking both the ephemeral beauty and the resilience of the human soul.
Requiem pour pianos 11 IIIFrance, 2017. | Romain Thiery
«This Louis XV-style castle was built in 1863 near Paris. Abandoned for over thirty years, it is in an advanced state of disrepair. All that remains is this Bosendorfer grand piano, frozen there, waiting. Visited for the first time in 2014, the building continues to deteriorate and demolition projects are being considered.
Since 2014, I have been fortunate to discover over a hundred forgotten pianos. This quest has taken me through many European countries as well as the United States. My photographic series is constantly evolving and I am already planning many future trips, requiring meticulous research work in advance. Some countries, which I visit frequently, form what I call the core of piano culture: Germany, Austria, Poland and France.
Requiem pour pianos 33, Poland, 2017. | Romain Thiery
«This residential palace was built in the 13th centurye century. It had many different owners until the Second World War when it was used as an archive center, then rehabilitated as a sanatorium. Abandoned for years following successive looting, only this piano remained inside. In 2021, the piano disappeared.
Finding such places is not an easy task, as search methods vary greatly across countries and regions. I spend a lot of time contacting people and traveling regularly. Google Earth is also a valuable tool that helps me obtain crucial information. In addition, I am fortunate to have friends around the world who support me in this personal project.”
Requiem pour pianos 38Germany, 2018. | Romain Thiery
«The Heilstätte Grabowsee was the first sanatorium built in 1896 in northern Germany. After World War II, it served as a military hospital until the Soviet Army left Germany in 1992. The place was rehabilitated into a ballroom in the same years. It has a special significance for me, because it was there, in 2022, that the shooting of the short film about my artistic work took place. This immersive experience spanned several days, offering a journey into the heart of my artistic universe, an unforgettable adventure that enriched my creative vision.
After more than ten years of working on this artistic project, a certain ritual has naturally settled in. I only travel in winter, attracted by these soft and soothing lights that provide a serene atmosphere in resonance with the instrument. Natural light is essential for me. I can stay for hours on site, or come back several times if necessary.necessary, to capture the precise moment that will best enhance the piano.”
Requiem pour pianos 92Ukraine, 2021. | Romain Thiery
“A few days after the Chernobyl disaster, the residents of Pripyat had to leave their homes in a hurry, leaving behind all their personal belongings. After more than thirty years, nothing remains, only the pianos remain in this area cut off from the world. Like, for example, this upright piano left in an apartment on the eighth floor of a block of flats.
I take care to retrieve the serial number of the piano, if it is still visible. This provides me with valuable information about the instrument and its history. I pass this information on to the association Music & Spoliationwith whom I have been collaborating for years. This association’s mission is to recover instruments looted by the Sonderstab Musik, the “Commando Musique” created in August 1940 in France by the Nazi regime.
Requiem pour pianos 93Austria, 2019. | Romain Thiery
“In an unexpected place, I came across this Schweighofer piano. The room that housed it had once been converted into a car garage.
For several years, when conditions allow, I have been recording in situ, note by note, the entirety of the sounds of the pianos that I discover. These sample libraries will offer a second life to these abandoned and often difficult to access pianos, giving hundreds of musicians around the world the opportunity to make them resonate again. I see it as an opportunity to preserve the musical soul of each piano, adding a sonic dimension to these visual works.
Requiem pour pianos 109, Italy, 2021. | Romain Thiery
“In the summer of 2021, I had no idea of the treasure that awaited me in this farmhouse abandoned for years, nestled in the heart of northern Italy. At the bend in the lush vegetation, invaded by meters of brambles, I discovered two Fratelli Combo pianos, carefully stored in an old shed.
It is often very complex to obtain information on the reasons for their abandonment. On site, I systematically look for documents that could give me a potential abandonment date. Some places, with a historical or heritage dimension, make it easier to trace the history of the building. Most of the time, abandonment is linked to inheritance problems or a lack of financial means for the maintenance of the premises.
Requiem pour pianos 118United States, 2021. | Romain Thiery
“The Briarcliff Lodge was a luxury resort in New York State. It is one of the largest wooden structures in the United States. While this music hall hosted presidents and celebrities, there is no trace of it today, except for this New York piano by Sohmer & Co. It has been abandoned since 1994.
Photographing this piano has long been one of my dearest dreams. On site, the immensity of the building and its state of disrepair surprised me, while the construction of a similar building nearby, instead of undertaking restoration work, deeply challenged me. I took the time to soak up its atmosphere, wait for the right moment and record the still audible sounds emanating from this piano. The only incongruous presence were dozens of raccoons, adding a touch of life to this abandoned building.
Requiem pour pianos 132Hungary, 2022. | Romain Thiery
“This castle, built in the 19th centurye century is known for having been inhabited by the Hungarian romantic poet Dániel Berzsenyi, who wrote his artworks the most important. After World War II, the communist regime nationalized many aristocratic properties, such as this castle. Used for public purposes as a school for girls, it began to deteriorate before being abandoned in 2005. All that remains is this 1874 Josef Grund piano, the sound of which I recorded. I had to return to the site three times on different trips to get the light that suited me.
Requiem pour pianos 138, Italy, 2023. | Romain Thiery
“This Tuscan villa was built in 1875 between olive trees and vineyards. The remains of the piano are in the most beautiful room, decorated with frescoes from floor to ceiling, paintings of Tuscan landscapes and parrots. The building is in very poor condition but restoration projects are being considered.
Ruins have always captured the human imagination for multiple reasons combining emotion, history, aesthetics and philosophy. They are places where past and present meet, offering a unique perspective on our own existence and our place in history. Ruins represent places to discover, explore and understand, which stimulates the spirit of adventure. They possess a unique beauty, often due to the combination of ancient architecture and nature reclaiming its rights. The play of light and shadow, the textures attract our eye.
Even if time damages these pianos, they do not lose their natural elegance. Even covered in thick dust, they continue to impose their nobility and respect. This grandeur is rooted deep in our culture.
Romain Thiery exhibits at Pezenas (Hérault) and has just opened a gallery in Bergerac (Dordogne).
Fanny Arlandis
A journalist, she writes mainly about photography and the Middle East for Le Monde, Télérama and Slate.
Source: www.slate.fr
