La Gacilly’s 22nd Photo Festival launches this June with a bold tribute to British photography. Over 700 outdoor works, some monumental in scale, spotlight irreverent, tender, and thought-provoking British perspectives.
Irreverent, whimsical, or eccentric—this year’s La Gacilly Photo Festival, now in its 22nd edition, is shining a spotlight on the "offbeat eye" of British photographers. Starting June 1st, the picturesque village in Brittany’s Morbihan region will transform into an open-air gallery.
Around 700 photos, some displayed in massive outdoor formats, are expected to draw the usual 300,000 summer visitors to La Gacilly, located midway between Vannes and Nantes.
Following Australia’s feature in 2024, the United Kingdom takes center stage this year under the theme So British. The goal, according to exhibition curator Cyril Drouhet, is to spread "contagious good humour."
"In times as uncertain as these, we wanted to highlight the uniquely British way of balancing tradition with irreverence—to bring a touch of lightness and optimism," Drouhet told AFP.
Among those featured is renowned British photographer Martin Parr, whose vivid, pop-coloured imagery captures his fellow citizens with affection and wit—like the iconic scene of children with ice cream dripping down their chins as they wait roadside for their parents.
The exhibition also includes work by Tony Ray-Jones, who influenced Parr, as well as Peter Dench and Josh Edgoose, all of whom share that same signature offbeat perspective.
"But it’s not all light-hearted," Drouhet noted. "We’re also showcasing the raw, unfiltered views of photographers like Mary Turner and Don McCullin, whose images—often shaped by the brutal realities of war—carry a haunting, explosive weight."
The festival will also highlight a trailblazer: English botanist Anna Atkins, who in 1843 published the world’s first photographic book. Using the cyanotype process, she captured plants in delicate, ghostly blue, creating a poetic tribute to nature’s details.
"Her work invites us to reflect on slowness and the artisanal nature of creation," said Drouhet. "While many document human life, Anna Atkins gave voice to plants."
This year’s festival will also place a strong emphasis on environmental themes, particularly the sea, through the lens of French photographers including Robert Doisneau, Stéphane Lavoué, and Laurent Ballesta.
"We’re not here to provide answers," concluded Drouhet, "but to raise awareness—reminding us all that we belong to one ecosystem and have a responsibility to preserve it."
With AFP
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