Photographies Vivantes
Photographies Vivantes is an innovative exhibition and residency project centred on ephemeral plant-based photography. Developed in collaboration with the Musée Départemental Albert-Kahn, the installation transforms three distinct museum spaces—the greenhouse, a meeting room, and a rented shipping container—into active sites for production and exhibition. Visitors are invited to interact directly with the artworks, contribute to their creation, and observe the continuous cycle of growth and decay of photographs made from living watercress.
At the heart of Photographies Vivantes lies a critical exploration of the politics of ephemeral photography. By advocating for plant-based photography as a sustainable alternative, the project challenges the relevance of traditional chemical photography in the context of today’s environmental crisis. It raises significant questions about the value of archives: should the longevity of artworks take precedence if preservation methods contribute to environmental degradation? In an era of climate instability and resource scarcity, can we justify the energy-intensive practices required to maintain artworks for centuries?
Plant-based photographsexist in a paradox: while their physical lifespan is short, the practice itself is sustainable, reproducible, and avoids the cycles of extraction, accumulation, and waste at the heart of the environmental crisis. Photographies Vivantes promotes an approach to art that prioritises immediate experience over commercialisation, deliberately bypassing the elitist spheres of art fairs and private collections. Public accessibility is central to the project, supported by an inclusive programme designed to broaden participation.
Museum visitors are introduced to the practice of photosynthesis-based photography, expanding their understanding of the medium beyond the conventional analogue-versus-digital debate. Instead, the exhibition presents a plurality of surfaces, including living plants, as active participants in the photographic process. Through the exhibition and workshops, dialogues emerge around the aesthetic and ethical value of fragility and the importance of supporting sustainable artistic practices.
The project also questions the role of museums in the context of the environmental crisis. Photographies Vivantes demonstrates how museums can become catalysts for change by supporting artists in researching and developing sustainable forms of artistic production. It redefines the museum’s role, not merely as a custodian of culture and history but as a forward-thinking platform for shaping new narratives and perspectives. By taking on the financial and practical challenges of redefining photographic practices, the museum exemplifies how institutions can contribute to more sustainable futures in the arts.
With a distinctly punk spirit, Photographies Vivantes challenges conventional ideas about photography, museum spaces, artistic production, and the role of the artist. Rejecting artistic secrecy and mystique, the project prioritises knowledge-sharing and public engagement. It proudly utilises unconventional museum spaces, such as a shipping container repurposed as a darkroom, to deepen visitors’ understanding of photosynthesis-based photography and foster collective artistic creation.
Historically, photography has been seen as a means of documenting and preserving moments, often regarded as a purveyor of truth. Photographies Vivantes upends this traditional view. In a world marked by rapid advances in artificial intelligence and pressing environmental concerns, the project transcends outdated notions of photography as static documentation. Instead, it reimagines photography as a dynamic medium for social dialogue, collective reflection, and personal expression. The emphasis is on the immaterial sustainability of the artwork—its ability to inspire change, foster knowledge exchange, and provide meaningful aesthetic experiences.
Building on the Archives de la Planète, Photographies Vivantes takes a radically different approach to photography while remaining aligned with the deeply humanistic philosophy underpinning the archives. The project invites audiences to engage with photography not as a commodity to be preserved or traded but as a process of artistic exploration, open and accessible to all. Through this collaborative and inclusive approach, Photographies Vivantes continues to challenge and redefine the role of photography and the museum in the modern world, honouring the profound human connection at the heart of the project.
