Photographer Documents Parisian Funfair as Social Stage for Working-Class Communities
Photographer Mathieu Richer Mamousse is creating an ongoing series titled 'Foire' that captures one of Paris's oldest funfairs. The project, which began in 2018, focuses on this temporary gathering on the city's outskirts as a vibrant space where working-class traditions and migrant identities converge. Mamousse notes that such fairs, popular since the Middle Ages and expanding after the 1789 French Revolution, are now recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage. Historically associated with industrial-era working classes, the fair maintains a complex social reputation. The photographer visits during warmer seasons to document everyday joy and social interaction, challenging stereotypes about immigrant communities often portrayed in limited contexts. His approach involves conversations with attendees before photographing, with the series continuing annually since the fair reopened in 2021 after a pandemic hiatus.
Key facts
- Mathieu Richer Mamousse is creating the photographic series 'Foire' documenting a historic Paris funfair.
- The project began in 2018 and focuses on working-class and migrant communities at the fair.
- French funfairs date to the Middle Ages, expanded after 1789, and are UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
- The fair is historically associated with 19th-century industrial working classes and carries a complex social perception.
- Mamousse photographs during warmer seasons to capture vibrant social interactions and challenges stereotypes about immigrant communities.
Entities
Artists
- Mathieu Richer Mamousse
Institutions
- UNESCO
Locations
- Paris
- France