David R. Robert lives and works in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. After working as a nurse for ten years he has been focusing on photography since 2018. Influenced by his living area and passionate about travelling, his former jobs as a musician, lightning engineer and currently as an independent label A&R bring wider and transdisciplinary perspectives to his photographic experience.

His aspiration is not merely to show images, but above all to evoke emotions, whatever they may be. He values the fact that each viewer can discover their own personal meaning in his photographs.

 

Self-taught and drawn to the DIY philosophy that emerged from his years in the punk-hardcore scene, David has intentionally avoided an academic art education. From the moment he entered the art world, he chose to prioritize emotions, feelings, and desire over formal instruction. For him, learning from mistakes, experiences, and successes, in a multidisciplinary way, is the most valuable form of education.

 

David does not wish to confine himself to a specific photographic genre, believing that every approach and discipline can be explored in a personal and creative way. His images nevertheless carry a distinct aesthetic, characterized by black and white—an inheritance from film photography—and soft pastel tones.

His practice focuses on capturing moments, emotions, mental journeys, and resurfacing memories. To achieve this, he favors a technical approach close to “point & shoot,” allowing him to remain highly responsive so as not to miss the moment or lose the emotion.

As an artist, his motivation lies more in sensitivity than in image-making itself. Still, he remains deeply attached to the aesthetics of his photographs, to which he devotes particular care.

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His years in the musical field—as a singer-songwriter, producer, artistic director, and more technically as a lighting designer—have led him to realize his passion for telling stories about ordinary people and everyday life. He highlights overlooked, unnoticed but meaningful details. Surfaces, textures, contrasts, light, and movement—or the absence of movement—are the cornerstones of his visual world.

Another key aspect of David Robert’s photographic approach, echoing his instinctive practice, is the complete absence of premeditation. He never plans his shots, preferring to focus on the raw potential of the present moment.

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Distinctions: Winner of the contest “40 Years of the DAV / La Chaux-de-Fonds Photo Contest: Past – Present.”