“The RATP likes photography because it’s a current and accessible artform,” wrote RATP president Pierre Mongin last October. The RATP is a state-owned public transportation operator with its headquarters in Paris. “It’s a universal language that speaks to us all, a window onto the world that invites evasion and reflection, which is why we have decided to make it the heart of our cultural policy, enriching the commutes of our 12 million daily riders with astonishing, iconic images shot by established and emerging artists.”
Since 2013, the RATP has exhibited in 16 of its stations works by Georgui Pinkhassov, Gary Winogrand, Harry Gruyaert and Bruce Gilden, as well as photo festivals like Photoquai and Circulations. The RATP also has close ties with institutions like the MEP, the Jeu de Paume and Magnum Photos. “We put the photographer above everything else,” says Jean-Michel Leblanc, head of RATP’s heritage program. We want to show a majority of new photos in our network, so they’re not just a reflection of whatever exhibition is currently running. For Harry Gruyaert, for example, 90% of the work on display had never before been seen. It’s a challenge, though, because not all photographs work well in large format.”
Future projects include an educational component, discussions with commuters, regular events about the relationship between photographers and the subway.
