There is an island in the world measuring around forty square kilometers where it is impossible to buy land because it belongs to everyone. It’s a place where you eat what grows just about anywhere, and where the meat you eat is the product of hunting. In this place, money is of little importance and no one sleepsoutdoors or goes hungry. They share equally in the catch of species that are protected and that reproduce peacefully in areas where fishing is forbidden.

This place is Rapa Iti, the southernmost inhabited French island in the world, 1,200 kilometers from Tahiti and 16,306 kilometers from Paris. Part of the Australis archipelago in French Polynesia, it is still largelyuntouched by outside influence and globalization thanks to its unique geographical location, but that’s not all.The rugged terrain of this ancient volcanic crater means that it is impossible to establish an aerodrome here, so links are only possible by sea, and approaches require caution. A mixed cargo ship links the island to the rest of the world every six weeks or so, but its arrival remains highly irregular. This is the only way to get to and from the island. The way of life of its 512 inhabitants, their solidarity and their relationship with nature lead to an introspection of our Western societies.

From the moment Paul Béjannin (a freelance photojournalist) discovered its existence by chance, thisisland never ceased to arouse his interest. He felt the need to understand how this French micro-society functioned. The astonishing scarcity of books about Rapa Iti and the fact that no photojournalist had spent any time on the island to report on it made him decide to go there as soon as he could. It took more than ayear to get permission from the town hall, and then 10 days of travelling before he was able to start working there.

The prints selected and presented in the gallery of Pauline Bréton (photography expert) in this exhibition are the fruit of several weeks of reporting by Paul Béjannin up close to the local population. A testimony full of humanity revealing the life and atmosphere of this geographically remote place.

Paul Béjannin – Rapa Iti, The Island That Dreamt of Another World
Pauline Bréton Photographies
346, rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris
From 27^th May to 2^nd June 2024
Free admission from 10am to 18pm