My project was born in July 2019, during the Rencontres Photographiques d’Arles 2019. I was in the Atrium hotel talking with visitors about an exhibition for which I was the curator and I noticed the behavior of the customers of the hotel who were completely indifferent to the staff. No one saw, everyone was completely unaware of this shadow staff, this service staff to ensure everyone’s safety and comfort.
The management of the establishment immediately adhered to my proposal to bring to the light some of these invisible who would be volunteers.
The week before the surprise virus arrived and the hotel closed, I had set up a real photographic studio in a large meeting room. The curious first, the shy last, almost all the collaborators present came under the spotlight, with the spontaneity that I wanted.
Naturally the exhibition scheduled for 2020 was shattered, the uncertainties of 2021 left it on my hard drives.
During and after these periods of uncertainty, the difficulties in recruiting before the pandemic increased considerably. Maids, waiters, receptionists, cooks, managers, etc. almost all subscribed to absent subscribers.
I chose the option of making stars of my models, permanently frozen in a real image. Because each of them certainly deserves it better than all the losers who seek personal recognition behind television or smartphone screens.
Photography is also about discovering souls and showing the authentic face of our fellow human beings.
Thierry Maindrault
Exhibition
Thierry Maindrault : Stars du Service
galerie de Atrium
1 rue Emile Fassin
13200 Arles
from July 04, 2022 to April 02, 2023,
daily from 09:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
For the curious, I curated “Jeux du Cristal”, by Alain Robert, in the salon of the same exhibition space. I also offer you, my curatorship of a collective exhibition, “Sous l’Eau”, of underwater, aesthetic and creative photographs, in the winter garden of the Arles Plaza Hotel.
Exhibitions
Alain Robert : Jeux du Cristal
galerie de Atrium
1 rue Emile Fassin
13200 Arles
from July 04, 2022 to April 02, 2023,
daily from 09:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Sous l’Eau
Arles Plaza Gallery
45 avenue Sadi Carnot
13200 Arles
from July 04, 2022 to October 28, 20222023,
every day from 09:00 a.m. to 21:00 p.m.
