Luc Ionesco

Luc Ionesco (1934, Paris — 1977, Paris) was a professional photographer who worked with EFEO/​Siem Reap from 1962 to 1966, documenting the major Khmer monuments and documenting the ongoing restoration works. He also contributed to the photographic documentation of the National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh and and the Battambang Museum.

A staff photographer with the French monthly magazine Réalités, he photographed numerous artefacts kept at the Angkor Conservation (Siem Reap), several of which being later transferred to Phnom Penh. His major contribution in color photography was published in the coffee table book Angkor by Claude Jacques and René Dumont [also with photographs by Jacqueline and Guy Nafilyan, and a preface by the then President of Federico Mayor, Paris: Bordas, 1990; English edition: Koln, Koneman 1999, 189 p]. He also carried out a three-month mission in Southern India.

Luc Ionesco’s work was featured among other photographers’ and uncredited photos in the exhibition of a selection from EFEO vast image collection at the Cernuschi Museum, Paris, from September 10 until January 2, 2011, Archaeologists in Angkor, reflecting EFEO’s work at Angkor since 1907 and curated by EFEO library manager Isabelle Poujol.