Noted Swedish photographer Louise Enhörning, who recently presented a solo exhibition at Södertälje Konsthall (Getaskogen 2021-2024), is participating in this year's edition of what is a hallmark of contemporary photography; the prestigious annual festival Les Rencontres d'Arles. In a visual diary for C-print she gatheres and shares impressions and memorable moments from the opening week of the festival.
Louise Enhörning
This year I was invited to participate in the Night of the Year programme at Les Rencontres D'Arles. In this programme interdisciplinary artists who normally work across various artistic expressions are invited to present a 2 minutes' long video. In total 50 artists participate, and my contribution overlaps film, photography, sound, interviews and music. The work Jeunes Coeurs was produced specifically for the festival and has been on view from July 6 and will show through September 29. It's truly an honour to take part in this year's programme.
Louise Enhörning, Jeunes Coeurs, 2024
Here's a press snippet about my work:
Louise Enhörning followed three female racers, aged 6-13, dreaming of being the first female Formula 1 winners. Jeunes Coeurs is a video about dreams and passion, layered with questions about gender and existentialism.
Artist: Louise Enhörning
Country: Sweden
Title: Jeunes Coeurs
Year: 2024
Video: Medium: Time: 2 min
View of Arles
The opening week of the festival amassed 20 000 visitors in Arles. Some of this year's distinguished guests were Bénédictine Alliot (La Cité des arts, director), Virginie Chardin (independent curator), Anaïs David (Jeu de Paume, Head of Exhibitions), Katy Hundertmark (Foam Museum, Managing Editor), W.M. Hunt (collector and curator), Sergio Valenzuela Escobedo (Double Dummy, artist, researcher) and Sara Rumens (The Times, Chief Photography Editor).
The opening week of Arles sets off July 1 and runs through July 7, and does not only consist of the impressive festival programme but informs also prestiguous prizes such as the Dummy Award, Prix Pictet, Prix Dior de la photographie and collateral fairs such as Mirage Photo Book Fair, various panel talks and a string of galleries presenting exhibitons "hors de féstival". The opening week is the networking event of the century, and I learnt what a Tomato is; a pastis with pomegranate juice. I was introduced to so many new artists and had the pleasure of diving into their fantastic projects.
Some "bests" of Arles 2024:
1) A big comprehensive exhibition featuring my favourite Sophie Calle that was presented in The cryptoporticus was a standout moment. Link to find out more.
Judy Chicago
2) Performance during an evening by Judy Chicago who allegedly showed "first large-scale immersive smoke sculpture created in Europe”. Chicago herself was preseent and in charge. Link.
From exhibition curated by Sonia Voss
3) On a Tuesday, a pique-nique and lunch was offered by the festival out at a monastery outside of Arles. Curator Sonia Voss presented an exquisite exhibition with images from the 1960-80's showing Japanense female free divers, so called Amas, who set out to catch seaweed. Link.
Vampres Fear No Looking Glass - El grupo de Cali, Vampirism and Tropical Goth, curated by Andrés Matute Echeverri and María Wills Londoño
4) Such a big part of Arles is to be introduced to new artists not previously known to you. Most of the exhibitions are very impresive in terms as well of the production value, with nice frames, different types of prints and novel formal approaches to show video and photography. The awardees of the 2023 The Rencontres D'Arles Curatorial Research Fellowship; curators Andrés Matute Echeverri and María Wills Londoño and their exhibition Vampres Fear No Looking Glass - El grupo de Cali, Vampirism and Tropical Goth is really such genre of project. Link:
A day outside of art
5) By Wednesday, I was visiting the biggest antique market and was on the quest to buy jewellery and a French chemise from the 1920's. In the afternoon and the evening I decided to skip the openings and head out for a bird safari by the sea instead. I swam and saw plenty of flamingos, bulls, horses and egrets.
Mary Ellen Mark
6) The biggest retrospective this year was by a real heavyweight; Mary Ellen Mark. The best work were two series shot in the end of the 1970's in India that I had never seen. The one depicted circus performers in India, and the other concerned prostitutes in what was then called Bombay. It was nicely presented by curators Sophia Greiff and Melissa Harris during a guided tour they hosted. Link:
At the old arena
7) I bought a ticket to a Provençal community festival housing at the old arena of the Roman Empire in arles. Men "play" with a bull for the chance to win a sum of money if able to disrobe a ribbon from one of the bull's horn. The saying is that the men in Camargue love their bulls more than their women.
The work on Lahem on view, curated by Joanna Fu.
8) Here's a glimpse of the 2023 Jimei x Arles Discovery Award winner. A new disovery indeed for me, and I especially appreciated the sensibilties that come through in the editing. Great, innovative printing of the work of the Chinese photographer Lahem, by the gifted curator Joanna Fu. Link:
À table: Chardon
9) I managed to get a table at the restaurant Chardon. The lovliest dinner all week that stemmed from local produce from Camargue.
Pool party de femmes
10) Thursday brought forth the iconic Women in Photography drink.
Snack bar Le Tamoburine
11) At the old bullfighters' bar Le Tamoburine you always end up coming across the mostexciting people, and that's also where you get to have the cheapeast pastis (pastis that will be served in a big Perrier glass).
Against Abstraction - An ongoing timeline of Gaza since October 7
12) I was able to attend a very interesting panel talk oraganized by Double Dummy Studio about the art world's approach towards the war in Gaza.
Luma Arles
13) Luma Arles with its premises makes for one of my favourite art institutions in the world The finest feature from the programme was Hans Ulrich Obrist Archives – Chapter 4: Gustav Metzger – All of Us Together and Theaster Gates: Le chant du centre.
Test screening of my work
14) I enjoyed all the selected artists who showed in the context of the 2024 Discovery Award Louis Roederer Foundation. It was nicely coordinated by Audrey Illouz.
Festival booklet
15) The last night; July 6, saw a cocktail event running through the night in honor of all the participants of the Night of the Year programme, with the head curators of Arles and the whole team in attendance. It was a good moment to catch a proper chat with many of the fellow exhibitors. Unfortunately disruption came in the shape of a storm and the big planned party for 7000 was not able to see its intended materialisation.
My work is on view through September 29.
A ton of thank yous for everything, Arles!
Louise Enhörning
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