Several photography exhibitions are currently taking place across various galleries in Marseille's neighborhoods, offering residents and visitors diverse artistic experiences. Among the notable shows are a collective exhibition at a new venue dedicated to photography and Guillaume Blot's exhibition centered around his book "Restos Routiers" (Roadside Restaurants).
At Galerie Faces in the 7th arrondissement, photographer Guillaume Blot presents two compelling series: "Rades" and "Restos Routiers." The 36-year-old artist, originally from Nantes and currently living in Paris, has uniquely transposed the American road trip aesthetic onto French highways and byways. Since 2018, Blot has been traveling across France in a converted van, seeking out small communities where he captures everyday life with raw aesthetic beauty and poetry.
Blot's work skillfully blends vibrant colors with gentle humor, creating images that feel both nostalgic and contemporary. His photographic journey began with the "Rades" series, which has also been published as a book by Gallimard Collection Hoëbeke. This project documents France's disappearing bistros through a comprehensive tour of these cultural landmarks. "I would stop whenever I spotted an authentic café with soul in a village, to meet the owners," explains the photographer about his approach to finding these vanishing establishments.
The concept for "Restos Routiers" emerged simultaneously with his bistro project. Rather than eating alone in the evenings during his travels, Blot became fascinated with truck stop restaurants and roadside eateries. He discovered that this industry, like the traditional bistros, is struggling to survive in modern France. The restaurant owners he photographed demonstrate remarkable dedication, often starting their days at 4 a.m. and working until midnight, requiring what Blot describes as tremendous "courage."
These roadside restaurants, which once served as vital stops for truck drivers and travelers crossing France, represent a disappearing piece of French culture. Through his lens, Blot captures not just the visual elements of these establishments but also their cultural significance and the stories of the people who keep them running. His work serves as both artistic documentation and cultural preservation, highlighting the human stories behind these often-overlooked establishments that dot the French countryside.
