The Domaine de Capelongue in Bonnieux is one of the most coveted tourist destinations in the Luberon in Provence. With a hotel and two acclaimed restaurants run by the star chef Edouard Loubet, in summertime the Domaine opens its doors to contemporary art and photography. For two years now, Hans Silvester, who lives in the region, has been exhibiting his photographs in that venue. Last year, he showed a magnificent series entitled Le Peuple de l’Omo (The Omo Valley People) and did a wonderful interview with Juliette Jedryszek and Laurent Decavele which we feature in today’s edition. This year’s exhibition is about pigeons. “A child is curious about the neighbor’s pigeons,” says Hans Silverster. “The man lets him pet one of the birds. A surge of emotion. The decision is made: when he grows up he will have a dovecote filled cooing birds.” This is also what happened to the celebrated photographer of Horses of the Camargue, Tziganes and Gypsies, and C’était Hier. After a decade of observing and working with pigeons, at home and elsewhere, Hans Silvester repays these birds for the pleasure and joy they have given him: he celebrates them in words and images. In a millisecond he captures their gracious forms, showing how they move through the air. “An endless parade of pigeons of all breeds: whites, blues, pinks, ivories,” he added. “Amazing stories of carrier pigeons… breeders’ prize flyers. As you look at the photos, the birds seem to alight or to take off. One can almost hear the flutter of their wings. Above all, the photos show a world in love with life and with the open sky.”
Check out this interview with Hans Silvester:
Hans Silvester photographe, Interview – Exposition 2016 chez Édouard Loubet from L’Oeil de la photographie on Vimeo.
Hans Silvester, Les pigeons
Bastide de Capelongue
Les Claparèdes, Chemin des Cabanes
84360 Bonnieux
France
