Rencontres d’Arles 2024

A roundup of the photography celebrations in the beautiful city of Arles.

We landed in Arles at 6am, with a few hours to kill in the heatwave before we could check into our Airbnb, which was tucked away in the centre near the arena.

I had already circled all the exhibitions I wanted to see at this year’s Rencontres d’Arles, as excited as a kid at Christmas about experiencing the work of Sophie Calle, Mary Ellen Mark, and many others in person.

Here are my must-sees:

So Happy You Are Here at Palais de l'Archevêché - a tribute to Japanese women photographers from the 1950s to the present. It includes over 25 artists, highlighting both well-known and certainly overlooked figures in the industry. The exhibition is divided into sections that explore daily life, critical perspectives on Japanese society, and experimental photographic techniques. It was a real pleasure to see the work of Rinko Kawauchi (below).

1. Sophie Calle's Finir en Beauté at the Cryptoportiques - Calle explores images that have been altered by mould in her storage unit, reflecting on themes of memory and decay. Rather than throw away the infected artworks (as advised), she chose to display them in a place that would continue their destruction. The installation is well-placed in the musty depths of the crypt. A sensory experience with heavy air and damp walls.

   

   

   

   

   The Green Ray by Mustapha Azeroual and Marjolaine Lévy at Cloître Saint-Trophime - This exhibit, part of the BMW Art Makers programme, explores the rare phenomenon known as the green ray, blending art and environmental commentary through a series of abstract landscapes. Thankful for the coolness of the Cloître by this point!

   

   Belongings by Ishiuchi Miyako at Salle Henri-Comte - Miyako's work is a deeply moving and intimate exploration of her mother's possessions after her death, offering a poignant commentary on memory, grief and loss. The installation is sparse with each image a single punch.

   

   Mary Ellen Mark: Encounters at Espace Van Gogh - This retrospective highlights Mary Ellen Mark’s powerful documentary work, showcasing her ability to connect with her subjects and capture the human condition. Her depiction of The Damm Family (below) who spent their lives living in a car, is a compelling signifier of the anti-American Dream.

   

   

   

   6. Vasantha Yogananthan: Time Frame at Cloître Saint-Trophime - The first chapter of Yogananthan's ongoing project Images Imaginaires, this exhibition distills the essence of Provence. The light that can only be Provençal is mesmerising. Again, hats off to the curation team for the installation at Cloître; the amber-hued walls combined with the honeyed light and shadow of Yogananthan’s imagery is perfect.

      The recurring appearance of a woman holding mimosas or reading, set against the backdrop of mysterious Provence, adds layers of narrative. A favourite.

   

   

   Mo Yi: Me in My Landscape at La Mécanique Générale - This exhibition showcases Mo Yi’s experimental approach to photography, often bypassing the viewfinder to capture images that reflect the rapid societal changes in China. It’s an exploration of randomness and social commentary.

   

   2024 LUMA Rencontres Dummy Book Award - This award exhibition highlights the most promising unpublished photobook dummies, providing a platform for emerging talent. Wonderful to see so many new ideas for format and design.

   Lee Friedlander: Framed by Joel Coen - At this exhibition, filmmaker Joel Coen curates the work of iconic photographer Lee Friedlander, offering a fresh, cinematic perspective on Friedlander’s influential street photography.

   

   

   Cristina de Middel: Journey to the Centre reimagines the migration route through Mexico as a heroic journey, drawing inspiration from Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth. A real lesson in sequencing and cohesion.

   

Here's a snapshot of our 24 hours at Rencontres d'Arles.

More about Rencontres here:

http://rencontres-arles.com