Arles: from Antiquity to photography

A millenarian city, Arles is the hub of France's Camargue region and the venue of the "Rencontres Internationales de la Photographie", a prestigious event organised every summer within the city's medieval walls.

In the days of Julius Cesar, Arles was one of Roman Gaul's most prominent cities. Its many ramparts, antique theatre and amphitheatre dating back to the 1st and 2nd centuries bear witness to the city's antique stature.

From medieval times through to Impressionism, Arles has been influenced by various artistic movements: the city's majestic Cathedral is a masterpieces of the Provencal Romanesque style, while the edifice's cloister was built during the Renaissance. Many artists spent time in Arles; Vincent Van Gogh even lived there. A city with a rich past, Arles might easily have basked in its fame and simply rested on its laurels - but destiny decided otherwise.

Every summer for the past thirty-six years, Arles has played host to the "Rencontres Internationales de la Photographie". The brainchild of, among others, French writer Michel Tournier, this even contributes to the recognition of photography as an art form in its own right - a challenging stance at the time of the event's inception.

While in Paris the Galerie Nationale du Jeu de Paume, the Maison Europeenne de la Photographie and the Georges Pompidou Centre showcase artists with solidly entrenched reputations, in Arles a new chapter in the history of photography is written every summer.

Exhibits highlighting very different genres and styles illustrate the various approaches to this form of plastic arts. Despite their ever-rising popularity, the Rencontres continue to break new ground and challenge the status quo, daring to display the work of innovative and diverse artists. Visitors can enjoy finding out what photography is really all about the discover new artists as they wander through the numerous art galleries scattered around the city, or attend the various conferences, symposiums and workshops organised during the Rencontres.

The aim in Arles is to astound both amateurs and professionals while initiating young people from the region or beyond to photography. Designed to appeal to people from all walks of life, the event covers the entire spectrum of photography.

This international festival, which attracts artists from around the world, is also a regional event organised for the benefit of local residents. Accordingly, certain exhibits remain open beyond the usual period, until September, so that local secondary school students can visit the displays when they go back to school in the fall.

The young talent of the National School of Photography in Arles, an internationally renowned school celebrating its 20th anniversary, will also be on display this year and their work exhibited in certain areas.

In addition to the numerous activities highlighting the city from a new angle, various debates will also be organised to promote exchanges between both photographers and spectators. Backed by local and national funding, by the French Ministry of Culture, and by the Provence-Alpes Cote d'Azur region, the Rencontres also receive unfailing support from numerous corporate sponsors, including the FNAC and the Dakota Group, a media investment company sponsoring the five Rencontres Awards of 10,000 euroes each and which, for the past four years, have recognized young artists mentored by professionals.

The latter leverage their experience to showcase budding talent and provide an area in which novices can exhibit their work for their first time. This year features such newcomers as British artist Jo Longhurst, Miroslav Tichy from Czechoslovakia, and Juji Ono and Kyoichi tsuzuki from Japan, as well as Icelander Kristleifur Bjornsson, Maurice Scheltens from the Netherlands, and French artist Mathieu Bernard-Reymond.

In 2004, the exhibition's guest artistic director was acclaimed photographer Martin Parr. This year, Francois Hebel, long-time director of the Rencontres, has decided to organize the event around major themes and their variants.

Thus, the 2005 Rencontres will join in celebrations for the Year of Brazil in France by featuring the work of Brazilian photographers Miguel Rio Branco and Olhares do Morro. Also on show, the monographic exhibits of Israeli artists Barry Frydlender and Michal Heiman, of American John Divola and of Spanish artist Joan Fontcuberta.

Hailing from Argentina, Leandro Berra will display his work in the "Portraits" category. Famous photographers such as French artist Sarah Moon will be featured, as well as an exhibit focusing on the work of Jan Fabre.

The "Rencontres Internationales de la Phogoraphie" in Arles offer visitors a look at the world from different angles, inviting them to reflect upon its most fitting images. In a city renowned for its unique architecture, this prestigious photographic event serves as a bridge between different eras and worlds.

Anne-Laure Bell
Actualite En France
Website - www.rencontres-arles.com