As part of the Rencontres d’Arles 2025, the exhibition ‘Face-to-Face’ is a must-see for lovers of photography, culture, and visual arts. Organized in partnership with the prestigious Dior Prize for Photography and Visual Arts, this event highlights the innovative creativity of young talents selected for their immersive and daring vision. The event, which runs until September 29th in the Parc des Ateliers in Arles, offers an exceptional platform to discover works that question our boundaries, whether physical, social, or emotional. The richness of this program lies in a striking confrontation between aesthetics, commitment, and artistic innovation, reflecting a key moment in the contemporary scene. The confrontation between bodies, territories, and identities unfolds throughout the works, revealing a world that is often fractured but also in the midst of reconstruction, under the keen eye of young creators from the most renowned art schools. For those wishing to deepen their knowledge of the current art scene or simply immerse themselves in unique visual worlds, this exhibition is an essential step, combining encounters, reflections, and discoveries. Discover the art of photography through practical advice, innovative techniques, and visual inspiration to capture unforgettable moments. Young talents at the heart of an exhibition illustrating the challenges of our time in Arles. Since its creation in 2017, theDior Prize for Photography and Visual Arts
‘Face-to-Face’
introduces a reflection on proximity, confrontation, and confrontation with the Other or with oneself. This year’s selection brings together a collection of works that blur the traditional boundaries of body and space, testifying to a society in constant and often fluid motion. The works on display are not merely aesthetic: they take a critical, poetic, or engaged look at crucial subjects such as identity, migration, freedom, and violence. Their strength lies in a subtle balance between striking visual design and profound reflection. The scenography favors an immersive journey, allowing the viewer to move freely between still images, videos, and installations, as if to better grasp the complexity of our era. Beyond its aesthetic value, this exhibition becomes a true encounter with artists who deconstruct in order to better reconstruct, thus offering keys to understanding the contemporary world. Discover the art of photography through tips, techniques, and advice for capturing unforgettable moments. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced photographer, find inspiration to enhance your images and express your creativity. The moving works of emerging talents express a collective malaise in Arles. Among the hundred or so works presented, several draw their power from a powerful feeling of unease or alienation. The video How Do You Feel?
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Andreas Gursky explores the residence on Rue du Commandant-Mouchotte in Paris through his lens
A monumental vision of the residence on Rue du Commandant-Mouchotte in Paris by Andreas Gursky…
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An artistic deconstruction to better reconstruct identities in Arles
What these young artists highlight is the ability to decompose in order to reformulate, to reshuffle the cards of our reference points. The quest for meaning is embodied in works that sometimes combine the body with natural, technological, or symbolic elements. Wu Chia Yun, for example, seeks to represent movement and emotion through the sea, a symbol of ebb and flow, nostalgia and threat. Her approach evokes the instability of national and personal identities in the digital age. At the same time, Sara De Brito Faustino’s series explores the transformation of intimacy through a visual deconstruction of bodily forms and everyday objects. Her work, imbued with pain and dark humor, questions what constitutes the true self in the face of a society in crisis. The works all evoke this need to deconstruct in order to better construct or reconstruct, forging an aesthetic that goes beyond simple visual rendering to become part of a philosophical approach. These young artists demonstrate their ability to break new ground, rethink boundaries, and recount the complexity of today’s world. Women artists, masters of a new, committed aesthetic in Arles The feminine works of the artist Brathwaite or Fresnay illustrate the ability to challenge norms while proposing a powerful aesthetic. Their creativity conceals a discreet yet powerful activism, renewing the way women, freedom, and vulnerability are represented. Through photography and visual art, these young women seek to challenge as much as to move, at the intersection of poetry and struggle. Their critical outlook on the world, often tinged with inclusive feminism, translates into works that combine aesthetics and commitment. The confrontation with their own identity, their body, and society serves as a breeding ground for them to create a singular aesthetic, which leaves a lasting mark on the cultural landscape of Arles. Their participation in this exhibition also highlights the importance of female voices in the contemporary scene, witnessing an era where art is becoming an instrument of social transformation and universal dialogue.
Beyond the works, the event features a scenography designed to engage the viewer in a fluid narrative. The exhibition is punctuated by videos, interactive installations, and digital media, demonstrating a commitment to constant innovation. Because culture, particularly visual art, must remain vibrant and accessible, the organizers have developed guided tours, lectures, and workshops to deepen artistic reflection and practice. The complementarity between tradition and modernity emerges as a strength of this edition, reinforcing Arles’ appeal as a venue for artistic encounters. The presence of international artists, alongside young local talents, further enriches the diversity of perspectives and the scope of the issues addressed. The program, structured around the theme of “Face-to-Face,”
, thus offers an immersive and stimulating experience for all audiences, particularly those seeking to reveal the power of culture as a vector for change.
Frequently asked questions about the Face-to-Face exhibition in Arles
What is the main objective of the exhibition? The goal is to highlight the creativity and vision of the young talents of the Dior Prize, while questioning the boundaries of the body, identity, and space in a rapidly changing society. How are the works selected? Artists are identified through partnerships with art and photography schools, then selected by a jury of experts from a pool of international applications. What is unique about this 2025 edition?
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In the enchanting landscape of the Norman Vexin, the charming village of Martagny is transformed each year into a true…
CONTINUER LA LECTUREIt lies in the direct and intimate confrontation between artists and the public, embodied by provocative, moving, or disconcerting works that invite reflection through different artistic forms.
Where can I discover other exhibitions in Arles? The city is full of museums, galleries, and festivals throughout the year. Among the must-sees, the Luma Foundation and the Réattu Museum also offer programs related to contemporary photography. To further explore Arles’ cultural scene or follow other current exhibitions, it is recommended to consult the official websites and discover other transient events in this city renowned for its vibrant creativity and its culturally shaped history. The festival offers each visitor the opportunity to experience a total immersion in the multiple facets, or rather, of contemporary artistic creation, embodied by the energy of young talents from all walks of life, seen through a bold and committed lens.Source:
