Portraits de Villes is a collection of notebooks published by be-poles. Every guest artist receives carte blanche to illustrate the city of his or her choice. Each City Portrait is a unique journey led by the singular gaze of a seasoned or emerging artist.
The 35th volume in this series was entrusted to Daragh Soden. Recognized for his photos of Dublin youth, the Irish photographer essentially explores the themes of identity and multiculturalism. Soden chose Toulon as his destination, a city with which the young Irish artist was previously unfamiliar, and which is right next to Hyères where he stayed on the occasion of a local photography festival. The photographer discovered a “normal,” very lively town, and he decided to tell its story.
From the opening pages, the reader is plunged into a world of lights. From Faron to Cap Brun, and to Anse Méjean, Daragh Soden chronicles everyday life. This is a story of a multicultural city whose residents have made the place their own. During three trips, Soden encountered young immigrants, soldiers, longtime Toulon residents, and seamen in transit. Every single of his pictures bursts with life, be it joyous, serious, or world-weary.
The bay, the strange beauty of a seaside city, the militarized zone closed off to the public, the rhythm of a port town. Daragh has crossed the high-security fence to shoot the other side of Toulon: a life we imagine to be austere, the military life. And yet, every crew is bathed in the sun, in its scintillating rays of gold: a commander strikes a pose, a quartermaster smiles, and a deckhand stands at attention. The ship’s deck sparkles with gold and brings to light different strands invisible when the sun is at its peak. Soft, welcoming light makes the subjects sublime, even eternal.
Outside the harbor, one is immediately struck by the sensation of wide open spaces, the impression of mobility and transition: roads, railways, trailers, trains, boats, bus shelters, ships, aircraft carriers, parking lots, cars, scooters… One never stays long in Toulon, it’s a stopping point. Seamen sail off to new destinations: the bay is but a stopover. Bikers riding along the winding roads of the Var take a break to go for a swim. Tourists in their luxury sedans will be leaving at the end of the summer. But Toulon always stays.
Portraits de villes : Toulon
€25
http://www.portraitsdevilles.fr/
