The 57th edition of Les Rencontres de la Photographie in Arles, the world's most prestigious photography festival, is proving that eccentrics, amateurs, and unknowns can steal the spotlight from big-name artists. This year's program, running until 4 October, includes standout exhibitions such as We Are Not Alone: Alien Images, which explores UFO photography from the 1960s to 1980s, and Animal Model, a survey of 200 years of animal imagery.
Alien Encounters and the Power of Belief
We Are Not Alone: Alien Images draws on dozens of private and public archives presenting visual 'documents' of UFOs and close encounters. Highlights include Paul Villa's 1963 photo of a spaceship, allegedly taken after telepathic contact, and Billy Meier's flying saucer images, one of which appears in Fox Mulder's office on The X-Files with the caption 'I Want to Believe.' The show also features the 1995 Ray Santilli pseudo-documentary Alien Autopsy, which aired on international news channels. As the exhibition reveals, 'if the desire to believe is strong enough, an image can convince us of anything.'
Rediscovering Paul Kodjo
At La Crosière, Ivorian photographer Paul Kodjo (d. 2021) receives his first major solo exhibition in France, the result of over 15 years of preserving an archive of thousands of negatives. Kodjo's work includes theatrical 'photo novels' from the 1960s and 1970s, staged scenes of seduction and romance printed in weekly Sunday papers. These photographic soap operas, with titles like Lost and Found, capture the culture and social attitudes of Abidjan during a prosperous era.
Animal Model: From 19th-Century Naturalism to TikTok
At Méchanique Generale at Luma Arles, Animal Model ranges from 19th-century naturalism to viral TikTok videos, featuring works by Elliot Erwitt, Andreas Gursky, Roni Horn, and Hiroshi Sugimoto. The show includes Masahisa Fukase's angsty series Ravens and images of biologist Simona Kossak, who lived with a lynx and wild boar in Poland's Białowieża Forest for three decades. 'It could have been corny, but it's cleverly curated,' the review notes, with moments of sadness, violence, and joy.
Mysticism and Magic in Arles
Saodat Ismailova's Amanat, The Sacred Forest at Luma Arles intertwines ancient folklore with landscapes, featuring three new films shot in Kyrgyzstan's Arslanbob walnut forest. The 2017 film The Haunted is a love letter to the extinct Turan tiger. Meanwhile, Ming Smith's Wandering Light at Saint Anne church is the 80-year-old American artist's first solo show in France, showcasing her soft, blurred gaze and affinity with impressionist painting. Her 1978 photograph of Sun Ra is described as 'a masterpiece.'
Martine Barrat's Soul of the City
Martine Barrat's Soul of the City at La Galerie Rouge features intimate portraits of South Bronx, Brooklyn, and Harlem residents. The 93-year-old photographer, who moved to New York in 1968, worked closely with gangs like the Roman Kings and Ghetto Brothers in the 1970s. Her film You Do the Crime, You Do the Time drew thousands to the Whitney in 1978. Barrat states, 'It is in places of violence that I find love,' and her portraits are as arresting as those of Bruce Davidson or Roy DeCarava.
A Playful and Quirky Edition
This edition is noted for its playful and quirky tone, with fewer major shows by living artists. While some group shows and celebrity misfires (Patti Smith, Charlotte Gainsbourg) disappoint, the festival's emphasis on UFOs, animals, magical forests, and interconnectedness creates a 'beautiful, synchronous harmony.' As the review concludes, 'Where an amateur alien prank picture-taker rubs shoulders with Klein; when neglected masters are uncovered and a viral panda TikTok can seem as important as the creator of the world's most expensive photograph, the festival continues to challenge hierarchies.'
