Toulon's Rue des Arts Launches Large-Format Photo Exhibitions

The Rue des Arts in Toulon, part of the old town renovation program, is being preserved as an artistic hub by the municipality, which refuses to let it become dominated by brand-name boutiques. To assert its artistic identity, the street will host a cycle of large-format (210 x 140 cm) photographic exhibitions, visible day and night. The first series, titled 'Là où ça danse' (May 12–September 12, 2017), is curated by Christian Gattinoni, former teacher at the École nationale de la photographie d'Arles, and features young photographers Marikel Lahana and Lore Stessel. Lahana captures movements from contemporary choreographers' rehearsals in vibrant color, while Stessel photographs bodies in black and white, where 'the image becomes dance.' The second exhibition, 'Amorce d'un récit' (late September 2017), curated by Anne Cartier-Bresson, presents Mathilde Geldhof and Benjamin Mouly, whose works create a visual treasure hunt. The project aims to transform the street into an alternative space to galleries and museums, successfully merging urbanism with public photography.