French photographer Sacha Goldberger presents two groundbreaking exhibitions that blur the lines between reality and imagination. "Solitude augmentée" (Augmented Solitude), running from September 12 to October 12, 2025, at Place de la Concorde in Paris, was created in collaboration with Photoclimat and the charity association Petits Frères des Pauvres. The second exhibition, "Daydreams," will be displayed at Galerie XII from September 17 to October 29, 2025.
Goldberger, known for his unconventional approach that has ranged from superhero reimaginings to the baroque staging of his grandmother "Mamika," continues to explore collective mythologies while weaving in intimate personal narratives. Both current projects demonstrate his ability to question our relationship with images and memory through innovative use of technology and artistic vision.
"Solitude augmentée" gives voice and face to isolated elderly people, whose "imaginary friends" come to life through artificial intelligence and augmented reality. The project features eight participants aged 77 to 90 years old, each sharing their stories of loneliness and their dreams of companionship. Through humor, tenderness, and paradox, Goldberger reminds viewers that virtual experiences can never replace the warmth of human presence.
"The idea came naturally to focus the entire series on humanity and solitude, while bringing a playful touch with artificial intelligence and augmented reality," Goldberger explained in an interview. "Initially, I thought I would invent imaginary friends for all the beneficiaries of Petits Frères. Then, in a second step, it seemed more interesting to ask them who their imaginary friends were."
During the photo shoots, Goldberger recorded the participants' wishes, which he then used to prompt the AI portion of the photographs that visitors can discover through augmented reality technology developed by Les Filles du 9 novembre. The elderly subjects expressed desires to meet iconic figures including Simone Veil, Jesus, Bruce Lee, Napoleon, and Meryl Streep.
"They all have a story, their story," Goldberger noted. "The common point I found among them is often a love story with someone who has passed away. This is the case with Lucille, Jeanne, and Daniel. I admit that my meeting with Daniel was overwhelming. He told us about his wife, their meeting, and the emptiness since she disappeared. He writes to her every day to tell her what he's doing. It seems he hasn't left his house in more than six years."
The photographer deliberately designed the virtual companions to appear otherworldly, ensuring viewers immediately understand they are imaginary virtual friends. "If you look at each photo carefully, you'll see there's no interaction between the real photos and virtual images: no one is looking at each other. Everyone remains alone," he explained.
Meanwhile, "Daydreams" explores a waking reverie set in the American West. Light-saturated deserts, forgotten motels, and enigmatic apparitions populate this series where Goldberger confronts the mythological imagery of California with his own intimate fantasies. The project represents a more personal exploration than his previous work, drawing from childhood memories and cinematic influences.
"My father fed me American black and white films, westerns, American war movies," Goldberger recalled. "I admit that this aesthetic has always had an important place in my imagination. When I traveled to Los Angeles for my Alien Love exhibition, I left for a few days to photograph the America of my childhood, the one from the films I watched."
The characters in "Daydreams" seem to emerge from the subconscious, each with their own story reminiscent of David Lynch's Twin Peaks characters. Goldberger's influences span surrealist photography (Man Ray, Lee Miller, Hans Bellmer), literature (Asimov, Philip K. Dick, H.G. Wells), and cinema (Once Upon a Time in the West, John Wayne films, the series Yellowstone), combined with personal references to his grandfathers and family heritage.
Both exhibitions showcase Goldberger's innovative use of artificial intelligence alongside traditional photography. "I find that artificial intelligence, when used precisely, is perfect for revealing the imagination," he said. "It doesn't replace photography; it's an additional element that nourishes what the photographer has in mind. I couldn't have made this series without artificial intelligence. It allows me to reveal certain images that are inconceivable in photography."
The photographer emphasizes that his work serves a deeper purpose beyond artistic expression. For "Solitude augmentée," he hopes to raise awareness about elderly isolation and encourage more people to volunteer with organizations like Petits Frères des Pauvres or spend more time with their own elderly relatives. "We have a responsibility towards our elders. We will reap at their age what we have sown," he stated.
Regarding the public accessibility of the Place de la Concorde location, Goldberger believes the subject matter deserves such prominence. "I think the subject is so important that it deserves Place de la Concorde," he said. "I hope the virtual part of the project will serve to show the importance of reality and human encounter."
For "Daydreams," the exhibition features prints on Japanese paper within the collective presentation "Fiction(s) du réel," choices made to immerse viewers in a dreamlike state. "Everything in the series must plunge us into a dream," Goldberger explained. "The choice of paper and framing are part of the story. They accompany the images in a floating vision of a somewhat blurred reality, as dreams can be."
The photographer hopes visitors leave "Daydreams" with "the sweetness of a reverie," which he considers essential during troubled times. Both exhibitions demonstrate Goldberger's continued commitment to using photography as a space for doubt, uncertainty, and human connection, while pushing the boundaries of the medium through technological innovation.
