The collective and the common are brought together for this new edition of the Gers festival, under the theme of (Ensemble) Together; perhaps to ward off bad luck, as the artistic direction of the event is once again vacant. This in no way precludes an eclectic and promising program, concocted by Damarice Amao (with Marine Segond), who already distinguished herself two years ago in the same role.
“This year, Lectoure’s Photographic Summer explores the various ways of building a community and collaborating with and for photography. Some of the artists in this edition work as couples, duos, or collectives. They involve numerous external actors, inviting loved ones or strangers into their images. With them, they construct imaginaries, spaces of shared sensitivity, and open up possible paths toward a shared existence,” the photography historian tells us.
The emotional connections created by images were the credo of photographer Arlene Gottfried (1950-2017), who roamed the streets of New York in the 1970s.
“I love the emotional connection and passion that drives people. It drew me in, and I felt at ease. I didn’t feel like I was watching from the outside. I had friends.” The Center for Art and Photography – Maison de Saint-Louis hosts her work.
Barely thirty years old, Colombian-born photographer Felipe Romero Beltrán, already spotted at Photoespaña 2019, Getxophoto in 2020 and Circulation(s) 2022, already has a strong practice, which interweaves social relationships and intimacy. Bodies, nature and reverie are evoked through the gaze of Damien Daufresne, poetic and black and white visions for this multidisciplinary artist based in Berlin. The Bladé school spaces will present three exhibitions: Visages d’enfance des années 20, school portraits on glass plates in series, donated by a private individual to the art center. A former intern of Malik Sidibé, Alassan Diawara, is a Belgian artist who lives in Paris combines authorial work with documentary reflection on the world around him. Hailing from Toulouse, Anne Desplantez develops participatory projects; here, a collective work involving around twenty children from the Gers department.
Continuing their project begun in 2017, Nelly Monnier and Éric Tabuchi are taking over the Halle aux Grains with images from their Atlas des Régions Naturelles. They share the space with Kevin Chrismann and Laura Freeth and Creuser, their research on a combine harvester buried on a farm. Finally, in the public space, you will encounter images of anonymous individuals collected by Le Commun des Mortels, founded by Élise Pic and Jacques Barbier, giving renewed visibility to these (almost) forgotten images.
Jean-Jacques Ader
L’Été photographique de Lectoure from July 12 to September 21, 2025, open daily from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Centre d’art et de photographie, 8 Cours Gambetta, 32700 Lectoure. Information: https://centre-photo-lectoure.fr/
