Its visit to Lyon will not dramatically increase its popularity, since it is already the most visited exhibition in the world with more than 4.6 million visitors. But this represents a fabulous opportunity to be able to contemplate the work of one of the most renowned photographers. Presented for the first time in 2013 in London, the exhibition “Genesis”, by the Brazilian Sebastião Salgado, is on view at the Sucrière in Lyon until May 10.
The opportunity to (re) discover all the beauty of nature and its complexity at a time when climate change is one of the major concerns of citizens.
The strength of the message
"Genesis" is first and foremost the possibility of meeting, through his work, the master of film photography in black and white, Sebastião Salgado: "One of the greatest photoreporters in the world, he is essential", says Laura Salvée, project manager - responsible for the production of the exhibition. After having spent his life photographing what he called "the animal Man", in his sufferings and what he can have darker, Sebastião Salgado took an unexpected opposite. He decided to go on an expedition around the earth to immortalize what is most pure: intact nature.
After 8 years of traveling to the most isolated places in the world, from the Galapagos Islands to Antarctica or the Amazon, the result is a monumental exhibition of 245 photos. Thanks to his black and white photos and his use of light, which has become his signature, he takes us to discover the immensity and grandeur of nature like this Cathedral of Iceberg in the Antarctic, or the power of the eyes of animals. that he immortalized.
"It shows us the beautiful to encourage us to keep it as it is," describes Laura Lalvée. The strength of his message lies in this approach. A real “call to arms”, as he writes in a text exhibited at the end of the exhibition. "It is the role of art, to support with sensitive the evils of our society", adds the young woman. A message of hope above all, because even where it can seem dead, sometimes a seed is enough for nature to regain its rights.
An experience he did himself, under the leadership of his wife. At the end of the 1990s, the couple embarked on a monumental project by replanting the forest that surrounded their parents' farm in Brazil, which has disappeared due to climate change. The bet was successful, since today more than 2.7 million trees have been planted and an entire ecosystem has come back to life.
Sebastião Salgado, a photographer meeting the pristine remains of the EarthSebastiao Salgado a photographic work as an ode to the planet- Planet
- Lyon
- Environment
- Nature
- Exposure
- Culture
- Photo
- Man