Every summer, the photography world flocks to the south of France for Les Rencontres d’Arles. This major festival takes over the ancient city, drawing acclaimed photographers and making space for emerging talent. It also highlights past photographers whose work deserves another look. The festival sprawls across Arles, using everything from galleries to churches, ancient crypts, and even the local Monoprix supermarket.
Running until September 29, this year’s theme, “beneath the surface,” explores tremors, turmoil, spirits, traces, and parallel readings. Sophie Calle’s exhibition, “Neither Give Nor Throw Away,” fits this theme perfectly. Her series “The Blind” was damaged by mold, and now she’s letting it decompose in a damp, subterranean venue. Calle’s concept is to let the beauty of the work seep into the city’s foundations. Mary Ellen Mark, an acclaimed US documentary photographer, presents “Encounters” at Espace Van Gogh. This exhibition showcases images from five of her beloved series, featuring empathetic portraits of marginalized and vulnerable people. The display includes contact sheets, correspondence, and archival materials, offering a deeper understanding of her legacy.
Moreover, in Salle Henri-Comte, Ishiuchi Miyako’s series “Belongings” examines personal effects, from sentimental items like her mother’s lipstick to macabre artifacts like gloves owned by a Hiroshima bomb victim. Her photos explore the absence left by their owners, tracing their contours through their possessions. Tshepiso Mazibuko’s “Ho Tshepa Ntsheped Ya Bontshepe” focuses on her South African community and the “born free” generation, exploring generational trauma and questioning the notion of being “born free” post-Apartheid. Other noteworthy photographers include Nanténé Traoré, who captures the suspense of “in-between moments,” and Marilou Poncin, who envisions a tech-augmented future of sexual desires in “Liquid Love Is Full Of Ghosts.”
In Arles, the past and present collide, creating a rich montage of photographic art. Head to Les Rencontres d’Arles’ website for more information.
Les Rencontres d’Arles
34 Rue du Dr Fanton
Arles 13200
France
