Rencontres d'Arles 2024: Mary Ellen Mark Retrospective and Japanese Women Photographers

The 55th edition of the Rencontres d'Arles photography festival runs from July 1 to September 29, 2024, under the direction of Christoph Wiesner. The program includes the first worldwide retrospective of American documentary and portrait photographer Mary Ellen Mark (1940–2015), co-organized by C/O Berlin Foundation and the Mary Ellen Mark Foundation, at the Espace Van Gogh. The exhibition features iconic photographs alongside rare archival materials such as contact sheets, personal notes, and letters, curated by Sophia Greiff and Melissa Harris. Another major show, "I'm so happy you are here" at the Palais de l'Archevêché, focuses on works by 26 Japanese women photographers from the 1950s to today, including Hara Mikiko, Hiromix, Ishikawa Mao, Ishiuchi Miyako, Kawauchi Rinko, Ninagawa Mika, and Yanagi Miwa. Curated by Lesley A. Martin, Takeuchi Mariko, and Pauline Vermare, it addresses gaps in photographic historiography. At the church Saint Blaise, Vimala Pons and Nhu Xuan Hua present "In heaven and hell," a hybrid exhibition blending theater, performance, and photography, exploring female figures from pop culture, sports, and myth. The festival also includes focuses on digital and interactive photography, performances, and site-specific installations.