Edition 2008

Jean-Marie BÉNÉZET

Born in 1954 in Gallician, and now lives in Le Cailar, France.
After working as a professional photographer from the late 1970’s to the mid-1980’s, in situations as diverse as ethnographic museums and weddings, Bénézet gave up the discipline for many years in order to devote himself to art: looking at and choosing works; designing and setting up exhibitions; and dealing with commissions.This mix of questing, curiosity and concern left no room for personal practice. Perhaps a certain time has to pass before one dares to take the artistic plunge; here it happened almost in spite of Bénézet himself, when he bought the digital camera he needed for his work in an art centre. Taking the camera with him on his travels and occasionally on his daily walks, he was surprised to catch himself photographing whatever caught his eye – and to find that the results made up an oeuvre. His first exhibition came at the suggestion of painter Christian Astor in the spring of 2007.
  • Institutional partners

    • République Française
    • Région Provence Alpes Côté d'Azur
    • Département des Bouches du Rhône
    • Arles
    • Le Centre des monuments nationaux est heureux de soutenir les Rencontres de la Photographie d’Arles en accueillant des expositions dans l’abbaye de Montmajour
  • Main partners

    • Fondation LUMA
    • BMW
    • SNCF
    • Kering
  • Media partners

    • Arte
    • Lci
    • Konbini
    • Le Point
    • Madame Figaro
    • France Culture