Photography, rencontres d'Arles (english version)

47 photography exhibitions, Rencontres d'Arles, France (4th july - 18th september 2011).

This manifesto introduces the 36-artist exhibition which illustrates the new creative reaches of photography.

Chris Marker—who is a precursor if ever there was one—was quick to seek new ways of using photography: from La Jetée to Second Life, from the legendary ‘banc titre’ to his latest passion, the virtual gallery. This committed, amused and astonishing traveller is represented in the exhibition by a series of black and white photographs, made during his journeys around the world, and by his most recent colour series, taken in the Paris Metro, premiering here in Arles.

JR, whom we first exhibited in Arles in 2007, is from a different generation than Chris Marker but, like him, is motivated by political awareness on an international scale. He has always rejected the idea of fatalism—his concerns are for the lot of his fellow humans. JR was recently awarded the prestigious TED award in the United States. He will be presenting the meteoric development of his citizen poster projects at the Théâtre Antique on the closing evening of the opening week.

The connection with Mexican artists and exhibition curators is something we have been keen to foster and, in spite of the political upheavals, we are maintaining several exhibitions from this country whose photography, both contemporary and historical, we find so remarkable.