The Myop photography agency is celebrating its twentieth anniversary with a groundbreaking exhibition that chronicles historical moments captured by its photojournalists at the heart of global events. The showcase takes place in an unusual venue at the 56th edition of the Arles Photography Festival - the abandoned former municipal baths of the French city.
At first glance, this may not appear to be the most attractive location for this year's festival. The Myop agency, whose name stands for "Mes yeux objets patients" (My Eyes Patient Objects), has chosen to unveil its two-decade journey in the old municipal shower facilities. Exhibition curator Fannie Escoulen describes the presentation as "radical" in its approach and setting.
Visitors must overcome the challenging atmosphere of this site, which has been closed to the public for several decades. The air carries the smell of old humidity and mold, while the floor bears stains yellowed by the passage of time. The building has been rehabilitated specifically for the festival, creating a stark contrast between decay and artistic presentation.
The exhibition design creates a powerful sensory experience. After passing through an initial all-white room, visitors enter the heart of the building - a space plunged into complete darkness. In this remarkable staging, a photograph from each of Myop's twenty photographers is displayed on the doors of individual shower stalls. Each door serves as an entrance to a different moment in history.
"This installation is meant to be lived as an experience," explains curator Fannie Escoulen. "Diving into twenty years of photographic archives has been a moving experience, with things that are not easy to look at. We observe all the poetry of the world, while today we probably no longer see it when we consume images on social networks, without really retaining the photographic image."
In a rare approach for the Arles festival, Myop's photographs are presented without contextual information or explanatory texts. The images stand as raw traces of moments and emotions, capturing the lived experiences of photographers whose voices can be heard narrating their experiences as visitors approach the weathered doors. This absence of written context forces viewers to confront the images directly, creating an immediate and visceral connection to the documented events.
The exhibition represents a condensed view of global suffering and human resilience, showcasing two decades of photojournalism that has placed Myop photographers at the center of major historical events. The unconventional venue and presentation method underscore the agency's commitment to documenting the experiences of oppressed peoples worldwide, creating a powerful dialogue between the decaying infrastructure and the preserved moments of human struggle and dignity captured through their lenses.
