Jean-François Robert Unveils New Immersive Installation of “What Water Tells Us” in Arles at the Galerie JF Robert, from July 7 to October 5th.
From July 7 to October 5, 2025, photographer Jean-François Robert presents a newly staged immersive version of his signature series What Water Tells Us at Galerie JF Robert, located at 12 Place de la République in the heart of Arles.
As part of the Off program of the 2025 Rencontres d’Arles photography festival, Robert invites visitors to discover a reimagined presentation of a body of work he has developed over twelve years, centered around the theme of water. The exhibition will be open daily throughout the summer in the artist’s recently renovated gallery space.
Hailed as a “highlight” of previous Rencontres by the regional daily La Provence, the series returns enriched and reframed. Through light play, natural materials, and a sensory atmosphere, the installation offers an immersive journey between the sacred Maori springs of New Zealand and the waters of Provence—a personal and deeply inspiring region for the artist.
Shot without digital manipulation and captured in the moment, Robert’s images aim to reveal the resonance of the real. Shapes, textures, reflections, and emotions converge into a poetic and universal language. The exhibition invites viewers to step away from the noise of everyday life and enter a contemplative, almost meditative space—a visual pause between wonder and stillness.
A standout event of the Arles summer season, just steps from City Hall, this exhibition space has been conceived as a sensory and artistic refuge—an oasis of calm and beauty.
About the Artist
Jean-François Robert is a multidisciplinary artist—photographer, musician, and writer. The son of a painter and trained in classical music, he once worked as a musicologist for Le Monde. Since 2012, he has focused on a photographic exploration of water, capturing fleeting and intimate moments without the use of effects or retouching. His work has been shown in Paris, London, Berlin, New York, and Auckland.
Between 2012 and 2024, he divided his time between France and New Zealand, where he founded Piano on Tour, a concert initiative for underserved audiences, and established Space Between, an artist residency in the heart of Abel Tasman National Park. In Arles, he has transformed his studio on Place de la République into a public creative and exhibition space.
Practical Information
Exhibition: “What Water Tells Us”
Venue: Galerie JF Robert
Address: 12 Place de la République, 13200 Arles, France
Dates: July 7 – October 5, 2025
Hours: Daily, 11:00–13:00 and 15:30–19:00
Admission: Free – Prints available for purchase on site
Opening on 11 July from 6pm to 9pm
Breakfast at the gallery with Jean-François Robert on 15 July from 9am
Website: www.jfrobert.com
Instagram
Contact: +33 (0)6 23 98 86 78
Information
Galerie Jean-François Robert
12 place de la République, 13200 Arles, France
July 07, 2025 to October 05, 2025
