Sure enough, the tireless Hans Silvester is launching a new exhibition just a few kilometers from the previous one. In terms of setting, this second show has nothing to envy to the first the same type of thirteenth-century castle. It is within the walls of the medieval fortress of Gréoux that a cohesive selection of Hans’s Camargue works is on display.
This new exhibition has been organized and coordinated by the Friends of Jean Giono, in this commemorative year. These admirers of the great Provençal writer obtained permission from Hans Silvester, from Jean Giono’s family, and from his publisher, to produce a modernized reprint of a thousand copies of “Camargue.” This book was born, originally, of the unlikely collaboration between the young, highly determined photographer and the master of Provençal literature a reprint whose significance I gave you to when it went to press back in May.
It is in close collaboration with the town of Gréoux-les-Bains that the Friends of Jean Giono were able to take over the château’s entrance and its superb guardroom. The site’s manager and the association’s tireless secretary provided the kind of technical support any creator would dream of. Hans seized on this potential, selecting from his vast photographic archives the Camargue images that are in perfect harmony with Jean Giono’s literary spirit. The result is stunning an exhibition of the kind we love and that has become increasingly rare, both in venues built for it and amid the multitude of large-scale events, all those potential cultural platforms that have become overused and often distorted.
Everything is perfectly coherent, from the magical setting to the subtle prints of the works, by way of a clear-sighted scenography and good hanging. The majesty and serenity of the setting create an inevitable connection (with the necessary physical distance) between the viewers and the photographs.
All these images were chosen by their author with the greatest qualitative care, in the spirit of a Jean Giono who liked to efface himself within his own stories. His lines, words upon words, as lyrical as they are poetic about the Camargue countryside, carry his spirit forward. It is this carefree poetry that dominates every image hung on the walls.
Whether you’re completely passionate about photography or not don’t hesitate to make your way to the Château de Gréoux-les-Bains. A mental escape and the allure of dreams are guaranteed. It’s a truly refreshing break from your daily race against time.
Sincere thanks to the Cultural Department of the City of Gréoux and to the volunteer teams of the Friends of Jean Giono for putting this exhibition together. Kudos to Hans Silvester, who consistently delivers high-quality photographs and manages to keep up with the pace required to handle all the very different exhibitions that call on his services.
Thierry Maindrault
EXHIBITION
Jean Giono et la Photo
Château de Gréoux
07 place de l’Hôtel de ville
04800 GREOUX LES BAINS
phone +33 4 92 78 01 08
exhibition open from August 2, 2026 to August 23, 2026, every day.
opening hours 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Free admission.
https://www.paysdemanosque.com/les-expos-du-chateau-aout.html
