MEP's Bicentennial Alphabet: Photography from A to Z

For its bicentennial, the Maison Européenne de la Photographie (MEP) in Paris presents an exhibition that reimagines the history of photography as an alphabet. Instead of a chronological narrative, the show uses twenty-six letters, each corresponding to a word and a photographic theme. The journey begins with B for Bourgogne, where Nicéphore Niépce created the first known photograph between 1826 and 1827. A for Adolescence features works by Rineke Dijkstra, Denis Doury, and Charlotte Lamoulère. C for Conte includes 19th-century spirit photographs and reactivated figures by Pierre Joseph. J, K, L form a triptych on democratization: Journal, Kodak, Life. M for Musée shows Martin Parr in front of the Mona Lisa. Q for Queer presents Claude Cahun and Yasumasa Morimura. X for Interdit addresses censorship with Philip-Lorca diCorcia facing Senator Jesse Helms. Z for Zeitgeist closes with Nan Goldin capturing the spirit of a century from her interior. Between letters, poetic encounters occur: LIFE Journal meets Kodak ads, Noctambules dine at the Museum, Simulacre negotiates with Truth. Thirty-four photographers contribute to this abecedary. The exhibition runs from June 10 to September 13, 2026, at MEP, 5/7 rue de Fourcy, 75004 Paris. Admission: €14, reduced €9, free under 12.