Who said an exhibition always had to be indoors? For the past 12 years, the Abbaye de Clervaux in Le Mans has organized an annual photographic program around this historic 13th-century site. From June to October 6th local and international photographers are exhibited in the 13-hectare park, chosen by the Sarthe Regional Council.
A Journey of Photographic Walks
The exhibitions take place in the abbey park. The first artist featured is Hiêm Lam Duc, who has worked on trees in Iraqi Kurdistan. “It all started 30 years ago,” he explains. “I photographed children swinging on a tree. Later, I wanted to find that tree again. The locals helped me, and it took years. The Kurds have a special relationship with nature: trees are places for meetings and games. I even learned that they give names to trees!” Photos of trees from Kurdistan are displayed on the plane trees along an alley, offering viewers a beautiful mise en abyme.
