René Paul Gosselin took his first photographs, with a Brownie Box camera in 1959. These were appalling pictures. His Head-Master, Mr. Clark, of the St. Luke’s Preparatory School in Jersey, Channel Islands, and an accomplished amateur photographer, was kind enough to teach his student some technique. That was with everything from pinholes in a shoe-box to the latest Twin-lens Rolleiflex. Many years later travelling through Africa, these lessons were invaluable in recording the voyages of a business man, for twenty five years.
After more formal training in South Africa, René Paul Gosselin discovered Lesotho and began this latest trek into the lives of the Basotho. The photographer now exhibits in various galleries in South Africa and contributes to several photo-stock agencies and various magazines.
Nationality: British – Born Jersey, Channel Islands.
Father – French. Mother – Jersey French
Date of Birth: 2nd April 1951
Residence: Birdhaven, Johannesburg, South Africa
Education: St Luke’s Primary School, De La Salle College, Jersey.
Exhibitions:
2007 First solo Exhibition in Clarens – “Women at work” Women’s Day.
2008 Exhibition 2 solo at Street Café – Clarens and later moved to Kiara Lodge.
2009 Exhibition 3 solo at Alliance Française – Maseru – Lesotho.
2009 Exhibition 4 at the Franco-German Cultural Centre, Windhoek – Namibia.
2009 Exhibition 5 (jointly with CCJ) – Ben Susman Gallery – Johannesburg .
2009 “Basotho, people at work” photographic book launched – Johannesburg.
2010 “Galerie Photo” opened in Fouriesburg, Eastern Free State.
2012 “Galerie Photo” moves to Ladybrand, Eastern Free State in April.
2012 “Basotho Life” Solo Exhibition at the Consul de France, Johannesburg.
2012 “Basotho People at Work” Solo Exhibition at Morija Art Centre. December
2013 “Basotho People at Work” Solo Exhibition at the Alliance Française de Maseru. February
2013 “Basotho People at Work” Solo Exhibition at the Alliance Francaise de Johannesburg. April
2013 “Lesotho Life” 18 images Solo Exhibition at Maliba Lodge, Lesotho.
2014 “Dreams to Reality” Collective Expo at Heidi Erdmann Contemporary, Cape Town.
2014 “Alternative Print Workshop” Collective Expo at Turbine Hall Art Festival, Johannesburg.
2014 “Dreams to Reality” Collective with Erdmann Contemporary, Malvern Wine Estate, Cape.
2015 “Dreams to Reality” Collective with Erdmann Contemporary, Shenzen, China.