Aqua Mater: An Exhibition By Sebastião Salgado At La Défense
The Franco-Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado is very committed to the preservation of the environment. He proves it once again by presenting an exhibition entitled Aqua Mater on the square of La Défense in Paris. These beautiful black and white images on the theme of water are intended to alert us to the need to preserve one of the most precious resources of our planet.
A vital but fragile resource
With the Aqua Mater (Mother Water) exhibition, already presented in Arles in 2018, Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado wants to raise awareness of the fragility of water.
This common good to humanity is a vital resource, but threatened: 'We are destroying a large part of the forests, a very significant amount of water sources and we are heading for problems', alerts the photographer.
To raise awareness of this environmental issue, the 78-year-old Franco-Brazilian photographer presents a selection of images where the ocean and waterfalls rub shoulders with primary forests and deserts.
Copyright: Contemplation Fund
He explains that these images 'represent the essence of life, the water that is born from the forests'. He adds, 'They tell the story of water in abundance and the water that those who live in refugee camps, in the desert, lack.'
According to this very committed photographer, it is a necessity to 'rebuild some of this destroyed biodiversity, ecologically reconstitute the forests by planting native species of trees' and 'repair a nature that we need'.
An exhibition with an exceptional scenography
Sebastião Salgado's Aqua Mater photo exhibition has set up shop in the La Défense business district of Paris, under a huge bamboo pavilion.
This 1000 square meter pavilion was built for the occasion by Colombian architect Simon Vélèz who was inspired by the 'malocas', the large communal houses of the indigenous Amazonian tribes.
Copyright: Contemplation Fund
In this neighborhood of all concrete, glass and steel, this pavilion stands out for these natural materials. It was indeed built in 'guadua', a giant bamboo coming from the Amazon, the wettest zone of our planet, and which requires very little water to grow.
Copyright: Contemplation Fund
Through its form and materials, it evokes 'all the traditional constructions of human history'.
The objective of this place is to bring the public to a more global reflection on nature, while providing a natural setting that highlights the photographs of Sebastião Salgado.
These black and white and large format shots are the fruit of the photographer's countless travels, who has crisscrossed the planet from the Arctic to the Sahara and from the Amazon to Iceland.
This artistic and environmental project is sponsored by UNESCO and supported, among others, by the Hauts-de-Seine department.
Practical information
Sebastião Salgado's Aqua Mater exhibition is held under a huge bamboo pavilion installed on the forecourt of La Défense in Paris until September 22, 2022.
Address
Parvis de la Défense
92800 PUTEAUX
Schedules
The exhibition is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10am to 7pm.
Reservation is recommended.
Prices
Full price : 16 €
Reduced rate: 14 €
Free for children under 6 years old
