While the opening week of the Rencontres d’Arles was in full swing, Fujikina was equally vibrant. Exhibitions, conferences, photographic walks, equipment loans, and product demonstrations were all part of the rich program of this event conceived by Fujifilm.
Freshly renovated with the support of Fujifilm, the Hôtel Quiqueran de Beaujeu was bustling with activity. The choice of this venue to host Fujikina was far from incidental. As the former building of the National School of Photography (ENSP), this 17th-century edifice located in the heart of Arles’ historic center serves as a means for the Japanese manufacturer to underscore its commitment to preserve the history of photography, while paying tribute to the city’s deep connection with the art form.
Visitors had the opportunity to discover two exhibitions. The first, a result of an unprecedented partnership with Magnum, highlights four photographers from this historic agency: Peter van Agtmael, Carolyn Drake, Lorenzo Meloni, and Lua Ribeira, gathered around the theme of “Connection.”
While faithful to the documentary tradition, each photographer brings a highly personal vision to their work. Carolyn Drake drew inspiration from a best-selling self-help book for American women in the 1950s to create an installation where her photographs, reworked, cut, and collaged, integrate into the book’s pages like a virus undermining its message and mocking societal expectations regarding women.
Lua Ribeira’s photographic approach is inseparable from theatrical and playful staging, as seen in her work on the streets of Bristol, where she asked strangers to pose with her newborn. This was her way of questioning expectations surrounding the role of motherhood while initiating a reflection on the ethics of image-making, particularly when it involves the representation of a child.
Lorenzo Meloni confronts us with the “state of crisis” in our world and the economic, environmental, and social challenges it brings. Peter van Agtmael moves away from the war photography for which he is known to deliver a more personal narrative of his experience in France. All four photographers also participated in live sessions during which they continued their series and edited their work, captivating an audience eager to learn more about their worlds.
Upstairs, two photographers explore color and exploit the potential of instant photography. Exhibited together for the first time, Aliocha Boi and Christopher Barraja play with the expressive possibilities of a broad palette. Aliocha Boi’s abstract images draw us into a chromatic bath reminiscent of painter Mark Rothko’s canvases or the material alterations beloved by photographers like Laure Tiberghien.
Christopher Barraja, known for his work around the body, uses it here as a canvas for his experiments with light and color. For these projects, both photographers explored the possibilities of the Instax Mini 99, a camera whose retro design may evoke nostalgia but conceals innovative digital features.
Throughout the week, Fujifilm ambassadors invited the public on photographic walks around the city, providing an opportunity to discuss their approach and technical questions. Registered participants benefited from loaned Fujifilm equipment to experiment with different cameras in the field.
True to his passion for local bars (as evidenced by his bestselling book in 2023), French photographer Guillaume Blot led his group to Le Chiquito bar where, themed around the “wonderfully mundane,” they photographed the street, beer pints, and regulars of Le Chiquito.
Various conferences offered another way to delve into each photographer’s universe. Mathias Benguigui, for instance, led a discussion on the importance of subjectivity in documentary and informational photography. Laura Bonnefous invited Sylvie Lecallier, curator at Palais Galliera, for a discussion on the relationship to clothing in contemporary photography.
The week was also punctuated by exchanges at the Fujifilm equipment stands, where attendees could have their own gear checked and explore the latest innovations.
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