In Avignon, on the threshold of the summer of 2026, Galerie Rousset presents Paysages de Corée du Sud, an exceptional exhibition by the internationally renowned photographer Michael Kenna.
Echoing the featured language of the 80th edition of the Festival d’Avignon and its artistic effervescence, this exhibition offers a countercurrent experience: an invitation to slowness, contemplation and silence.
FILM PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE ALL-DIGITAL ERA
A major figure in contemporary photography, Michael Kenna has developed, for nearly fifty years, a sensitive and powerful body of work made entirely in black-and-white film photography, running counter to today’s dominant digital practices.
At a time of immediate, profuse and ephemeral images, his work reaffirms another temporality: that of long duration, waiting and gesture. His photographs, made with long exposures at dawn, at night or under overcast skies, invite the human eye to linger over what it cannot perceive. Printed by hand by the artist in his darkroom, the print becomes an act of creation, giving rise to unique images between photography and materiality.
AN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED BODY OF WORK
An artist recognized around the world through more than 500 solo exhibitions over the course of his career, his works are held in numerous major institutional collections in Europe, Asia and the United States. Appointed Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters in 2022, this distinction acknowledges the importance of his work and his privileged connection with France.
AN EXHIBITION IN RESONANCE WITH ITS TERRITORY
Presented in a particularly dense cultural context, “PAYSAGES DE CORÉE DU SUD” echoes a major moment: in 2026, the Festival d’Avignon will honor the Korean language, while France celebrates 140 years of diplomatic relations with South Korea.
At the heart of this dynamic, the exhibition offers a singular experience: a space for breathing and introspection at the heart of the summer bustle.
Michael Kenna : Paysages de Corée du Sud
from June 5 to August 15, 2026
Galerie Rousset
56 rue Joseph Vernet
84000 Avignon
www.galerierousset.com
