The crowded, colourful and cheerful worlds of burlesque shows serve as inspiration for French artist Valérie Belin.

Creating images from cabaret scenes, Belin's work restitutes a silent and empty world, suffused with delicate decadence.

The current exhibition YOHOHO at London's Michael Hoppen Gallery shows her new silver gelatin prints. Belin first took photos at Paris' famed Le Moulin Rouge and Le Lido - once glouriuos outposts of cabaret and burlesque that become almost surreal imaginative places. 

She then worked on each image, layering two negatives together. As a result, the pictures have a blurred, mysterious character. The impression is enhanced by the absence of human presence, while the black and white rendition accentuates light contrasts. 

'The new technologies have given me the option of using a freer, more pictorial, dreamlike treatment of the subject,' Belin says. The prints resemble drawing more than photography. The use of light restitutes the baroque exuberance of the sets while contrasting with a world devoid of any form of aliveness.

YOHOHO runs at London's Michael Hoppen Gallery from 31 May until 7 July.

Photos courtesy Valérie Belin and Michael Hoppen Gallery.

Michael Hoppen Gallery
3 Jubilee Place
London SW3 3TD
UK