Since its creation in December, 2007, the Gilles Caron foundation has revealed all the facets of the esthetic, journalistic or intimate work of this committed man, who is an absolute reference in journalism and in photography.
The publication of Scrapbook edited by Lienart publishings, and of the letters exchanged with his mother Charlotte Warden, J’ai voulu Voir, while he was a paratrooper during the French Algerian independence war at the beginning of the 60’s, and published by Calmann Levy, are the fruit of these four years of work. Marianne Caron-Montely, his wife, Marjolaine Caron-Bachelot his daughter, Louis Bachelot, manager of the foundation, with their friend Patrick Tanguy for the layout and the publisher Michaële Lienart, wanted to push to the extreme limits “the making-of“ of a work without diluting its essence, as reported by Michel Guerrin of Le Monde. Each document helping to understand the man and his work.
The presentation in Sete of this exceptional work is an opportunity to understand Gilles Caron’s approach and conception of his profession in under five years by photographing all the stories that symbolised this period. The exhibition is also a chance for the Foundation to remind us that although photojournalism may be going through an identity crisis, Gilles Caron’s memory can serve « to relight the flame of a profession of which he was a magnificent herald », as written by Jean-Marie Durand in Les Inrockuptibles magazine.
Born in 1939 in Neuilly-sur-Seine (France), Gilles Caron died at the age of 30 in April, 1970 on the N 1 road connecting Phnom Pen to Saigon. Just like Robert Capa, he is a legend in journalism and in photography. Between 1965 and 1970, his exceptional career as an agency photo reporter of the late 1960’s took him to diverse scenes such as cabinet meetings, a concert at the Bobino theatre in Paris, the1968 students’ demos and battlefields.
EXHIBITION
Scrapbook
Until June 3rd 2012
Chais des Moulins
52-54 quai des Moulins 34200 Sète
France
