Created in 1955, the Award Niépce Gens d’images is the first professional photography award launched in France. Each year, it distinguishes the work of a confirmed photographer, aged under 50, French or resident in France for more than three years. Since 2016, it has benefited from the patronage of the Picto Fondation, and since 2019, the support of The Eyes Publishing and ADAGP. The winner of the prize also benefits from a presentation of his work during an “Atelier Gens d’images” and an exhibition at the Dityvon gallery of the University of Angers. This historic award has been supported since its inception by the BnF, which regularly acquires works of the winners.
The 2021 Niépce Award was awarded last spring to Grégoire Eloy, born in 1971, engaged since 2003 in an author’s documentary photographic practice. His work took him for 10 years from the countries of Eastern Europe to Central Asia for long-term projects on the Soviet heritage and the wars of the South Caucasus. In 2010, he collaborated with the scientific community for a trilogy on the science of matter. Grégoire Eloy is also interested in our relationship to the environment and life in the wild during immersive residencies in natural environment. Winner of the Reportage Talent Grant in 2004 and of the 1+2 “Photography & Sciences” Residence in Toulouse in 2021, he has been a member of the Tendance Floue collective since 2016.
“Born initially from a desire to document and testify, my work has become, over the years, a more intimate practice of exploring new terrains (geographical, scientific, imaginary) enriched, along the way, with a formal freedom made up of artisanal trials and essays: installations, books-objects, outdoor photograms, silver prints by contact on a computer screen. I want to continue on this path, that of ambitious photography, ‘in motion’, in instability.” Gregoire Eloy.
Exhibition
La photographie à tout prix
Une année de prix photographiques à la BnF
November 23, 2021 – February 20, 2022
BnF I François-Mitterrand
Allée Julien Cain
Quai François-Mauriac 75013 PARIS
East entrance
Tuesday to Saturday 9 a.m. > 8 p.m.
Sunday 1 p.m. > 7 p.m.
Monday 2 p.m. > 8 p.m.
Closed on public holidays
Free admission
