A Conversation on Art, Whisky, and Life: Interview with Mathieu Chaze

Whisky lends itself well to photography. Perhaps because it’s a liquid that rests so heavily on time and on the influences of its environment – both of which are compelling subjects. Or perhaps because like a photograph that speaks to a deeper part of ourselves, it asks us to pause and be present.

“To be a strong picture,” says photographer Mathieu Chaze, “it needs to create [an emotion] in the viewer.”

Likewise, the most memorable whiskies of our lives are often the ones associated with moments of powerful emotion.

Last month, I sat down to speak with Mathieu Chaze to discuss his career, artistic vision, and the work he’s done for Bruichladdich Distillery. Chaze came from an entirely different background: a law degree and a 15-year career in banking. Though he’d always had an interest in photography, he never actively pursued it until one day, already burnt-out by his corporate career, his six-year-old son asked him a question that would alter the trajectory of his life: “When I’m an adult, will I remember all of this?”. Chaze realised the illusion of time and how quickly it slips through our fingers.

Covid-19 hit and with the extra time, Chaze signed up for a workshop in Puerto Rico with one of his photography idols, followed by a one-year mentorship with a professional. One day he returned home with a picture which stood out for the emotion it captured. Seeing his growing talent, his wife encouraged him to pursue his passion with greater intention. Chaze left his banking job soon after to dedicate himself to becoming a full-time father and photographer.

The transition from corporate banking to art photographer was not an easy one. Going from the banking world with a steady income, to building a business in the art world all while learning the trade, required an intensive retraining of the mind.  

“That takes years,” Chaze says. “But I needed it on a personal level. You know, in the corporate world we all put masks on – it’s hard to see the real person in front of you, because there are expectations about how you should behave, how you should communicate. Not that you’re a completely different person, but you’re restrained. When you try to make something creative, it’s completely the opposite. You have to put the mask down and be yourself. So, it is an ongoing process and struggle.”  

Chaze went from heavily relying on logic and analytics in his job, to getting comfortable with not being able to explaining everything and going with his instincts, even when it didn’t make sense. 

Like nearly all artists, Chaze needed multiple income streams for his photography in order to make a living while also investing in his personal work. And like many artists, he prefers to find commissions that align with his personal values. 

“For me there’s not a clear distinction between personal work and commission – I have to be able to use my vision to make work that I enjoy making and that I’m proud of. In that respect, Bruichladdich was a dream commission.”  

Chaze was drawn to working with Bruichladdich because of its values and the story of its renaissance, working with the local community, and becoming B Corp-certified.  

During his visit to Islay at the invitation of Bruichladdich Distillery in summer 2024, he was surprised by the landscape. He expected rugged, but found Islay’s quiet beauty awakened his senses and his curiosity. 

Nature is a strong theme in Chaze’s work. But you could not pin him as solely a landscape photographer: he likes to photograph people in the landscape – to show us that “we are part of the landscape and not the other way around”. He uses these scenes to create an emotion in the viewer through his images. 

His photographs of the distillery, the surrounding landscapes, the buildings, and the people with the pride they take in their work all give a sense of place that Chaze sought to capture: local people, local ingredients, local process. 

“There was definitely a sense of heritage – a lot of the things are done manually, with traditions passed down. And it’s complemented with a progressive outlook and sustainable solutions. I hope the blend of that comes through in some of the pictures.” 

Commissions like the one with Bruichladdich are what Chaze would like to focus his professional work on. 

“There’s a conscious thing. The extreme capitalistic part of society doesn’t work for me anymore. We need an economy – people need to make things and sell things. But I think when it’s done the way that Bruichladdich does it – local, something you’re passionate about – that makes a lot of sense. It’s a small story, but to me it’s important to tell it, because I think if we had more of that, it could make society a better place. 

“As a photographer, I try to capture the poetry of the everyday: making a picture out of something that somebody else would not necessarily notice. There is beauty all around you if you look carefully. My photographs are little moments, suspended in time.” 

This effect of creating an emotional experience that captures a sense of place and of time is not unlike what happens with a well-made dram of single malt Scotch. 

“It’s a good metaphor for life. What makes you happy, it’s often the little things – the little moments. That sort of philosophy I try to translate into photography.”  

Mathieu Chaze’s photographs resonate with our team here at Bruichladdich: both the images and the whisky act as a conduit for the values of those who make them. Likewise, both seek to capture the moment in time in which they were created and express the influences of the environment and the people, creating an emotional experience for those who take the time to drink them in.