The exhibition « Alimentation générale », curated by Anne Favret and Patrick Manez, goes beyond simply hanging urban shots on the walls. It offers a reflection on architecture, the city, and our way of perceiving them. Through a hundred photographs, the artists transform the classic vision of the urban landscape. On display at the Galerie du Forum d’Urbanisme et d’Architecture in Nice, it runs from February 26 to June 6, 2025.
At first glance, one might think it is merely a photographic retrospective. Yet, as Patrick Manez explains, « it’s an architecture exhibition that uses photography ». Architecture can seem inaccessible, with its technical vocabulary and complex plans. Here, the image takes over and tells stories. Each building, each street becomes a testament to life, memory, and urban transformation.
A Journey Across Europe
The exhibition’s journey is constructed like a train route. Each photographed city becomes a station, connected to others by visual lines. The scenography, designed by Marc Donnadieu and Orphée Grisoire-Pontieux, plays on these correspondences. Thematic stops punctuate the journey: graffiti, urban nature, architectural contrasts. Each pause invites reflection on a particular aspect of the contemporary city.
Capturing the Ordinary to Reveal the Essential
The artists focus on urban landscapes that we pass through without seeing. « We photograph anonymous streets, not monuments », reveals Anne Favret. The choice of cities follows a particular logic: all start with the letter B, a nod to the “plan B” of Europe. From Berlin to Birmingham, these metropolises are as many testimonies to the transformations of our environment.
An Invitation to Observe Differently
The exhibition offers several levels of reading. Visitors can let themselves be carried by the images or read the accompanying texts. Philosopher, curator, and landscape academic each offer their interpretation. « What’s important is to first look at the photos », reminds Marc Donnadieu. « Then the texts feed the reflection, like a dialogue between different visions. »
When Photography Questions the City
Beyond aesthetics, the exhibition questions our relationship to urban space. The artists work with a view camera, a slow technique that contrasts with digital immediacy. They capture the city as it is, away from tourist paths. « We want to linger on those places that no one looks at », explains Patrick Manez.
This approach is a reminder that architecture is above all a matter of experience and perception. Like cinema, it is an essential part of our culture. A culture that this exhibition highlights with sensitivity and intelligence.