Rencontres photo Arles: finding inspiration for 2022

The Rencontres de la Photographie d'Arles will be held from July 4 to September 25, 2022. This festival, as well as the Festival de la Camargue et du Delta du Rhône, makes Arles the capital of photography. An exceptional cultural program for your stay in #Camargue.

Les rencontres de la photographie d'Arles 2022

A rich program

Christoph Wiesner, director of Les rencontres d'Arles, opens his edito by explaining this year's theme, Visible or Invisible. A summer of revelation:

"A summer of revelations" - it seems almost self-evident. How to make us see what is staring us in the face, but which takes so long to appear, as if the revelation could only be a forced birth? Photography, and the photographers and artists who use it, are there to remind us of what we don't want to see or hear.

The program will be rich and diverse.

Among others:

• An overview of Bettina Grossman's protean work
• A critique of the pictorial representation of black bodies by Frida Orupabo
• The exhibition Si un arbre tombe d'une forêt (If a tree falls from a forest), which looks at representations of colonialism.

It's not just a question of representing humans. Two proposals are also made, denouncing man's exploitation of nature:

• Ritual Inhabitual presents trees made of paper, to make us aware of the disarray caused by the manufacture of paper in ever-increasing demand.
• Bruno Serralongue documents the need for the Sioux people to protect their ancestral lands from industrial projects.

Download the press kit and the complete program for the Rencontres de la photographie d'Arles.

A radical reinvention of the image of women, by women

Christoph Wiesner goes on to describe the festival's commitment: "Over the past forty years, a long process of recognition for women photographers has been underway. This year, in keeping with the Rencontres' commitment, there are many places inhabited by this radiance and creativity, from historic figures to the discovery of forgotten or little-known artists, to the emergence of young talent."

A case in point is the presentation Une avant-garde féministe des années 1970, the result of eighteen years of research. This is an opportunity to showcase performances by female artists from many parts of the globe. Other women's performances include Cartographies du corps, by Susan Meiselas and Marta Gentilucci, and Capturer des moments dans l'espace, by Babette Mangolte - who will receive the Women in motion prize.

Rencontres de la photographie d'Arles, beyond the exhibitions

These meetings are also an opportunity to support other types of projects. For example:

• Les rencontres Luma dummy book awards: help with the publication of a book model.
• The different book prices: author, historical, photo-text.

Arles, capital of photography and city of architecture... among other things!

Arles is the capital of photography, which explains the importance of the Rencontres de la Photographie. Arles is also a city of captivating architecture. We recommend a visit to its arena. Since last June, Arles has also been the site of the Luma Tower, built by the architect of the Guggenheim Museum.

Whether you're a photographer or a photography enthusiast, a visitor or an observer of the beauty that surrounds you, this magnificent tower will be a highlight of your visit to Arles. It's a powerful symbol for art, and photography in particular: an exhibition space as much as a subject in itself. An artist created it, and many artists will stay here: a great reason to stay in the Camargue.

We've also mentioned that other events celebrate photography in Arles: the Auberge Cavalière du Pont des Bannes is a partner of the famous Camargue Festival, whose 14th edition will take place from May 14 to 30, 2022.

Close to these meetings, the Auberge cavalière du Pont des Bannes

Arles is 35 km from our 4-star hotel.

Once you've had your fill of photos, why not take some of your own in a wild and enchanting environment? For example, immortalize the flight of pink flamingos, or the silhouette of a Camargue horse silhouetted against the beach, during a peaceful sunset.

Any excuse is a good one to visit the Camargue. 

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