Les Recontres d’arles, through the eyes of a Masters in Art history student.
The American College of the Mediterranean (ACM) offered me the opportunity to check out Les Rencontres d’Arles. It is a renowned international photography festival in Arles, France exhibiting prestigious and up & coming photographers. The festival is spread throughout the city holding exhibitions on various heritage sites. Enhancing the experience of the photography and allowing visitors to see everything Arles has to offer. I was able to see artists I’d never heard of before as well as art work that I am interested in for my masters art history thesis.
Something that was completely unexpected was Nhu Xuan and Vimala Pons, Heaven and Hell exhibition at the Église Saint-Blaise. What I thought was a dark grey church stripped of adornments had been transformed into an unsettling neon world that felt like George Orwell’s 1984. The images and videos all gave an eerie impression of either feigned happiness, hysteria, or being watched, similar to the propaganda in 1984 where Big Brother was watching. I have never experienced photography and film in such an immersive way before, it was exhilarating. Another exhibition that also gave me a fresh perspective on photography was Ishiuchi Miyako’s images of Frida’s belongings.
A central subject I am considering for my thesis is Frida Kahlo. I was ecstatic to see Ishiuchi Miyako included her images of Frida’s possessions in her Belongings exhibition. The images of Frida’s belongings is a subject I hadn’t really considered before. Miyako’s photographs made me think of how other artists have experienced Frida Kahlo’s work and her persona. The work inspired by Kahlo could potentially give me a deeper or more nuanced perspective for my thesis. Which left me with a lot to consider and a completely new entry into the incredible life of Frida Kahlo.
Overall, the experience of walking through the streets of Arles felt like an exhibit in-itself. The street art, creative window displays, and galleries infused every corner with whimsy. I got to see Christine Millerin’s gallery, she is a local artist heavily inspired by Kahlo and Van Gogh. And of course being in Arles I had to visit some of the famous spots like the Van Gogh café. By the end of the day every one of my fellow master’s students had seen something that inspired them or expanded their perception of art . The opportunity was unforgettable and incredibly helpful in giving me direction for my master’s thesis!