After more than twenty years of observing, studying, and celebrating young Parisians, photographer Hugues Lawson-Body is presenting his "Young Parisians" exhibition on the gates of the Saint-Jacques Tower. This vibrant, rich, and sensitive exhibition pays tribute to Parisian youth, featuring photographs captured both in 2010 and 2025.

The "Young Parisians" project originated as a photography book published in 2010, born from Lawson-Body's evolving relationship with youth culture. "At 33 years old, I realized I was interacting differently with young people," he explained. Between 2005 and 2007, he became captivated by the tecktonik dance movement, which he witnessed emerging in central Paris and the 20th arrondissement. While photographing these young dancers, he realized with his friend Arthur that no photography book addressed this generation, and they felt compelled to fill that gap.

For three years, Lawson-Body explored every neighborhood in the capital, often positioning himself outside middle schools and high schools. His goal was to capture the specificity of Parisian youth, who distinguish themselves through their unique history and particular style, while also breaking certain stereotypes by showing a realistic Paris. "Seeing these photos exhibited in the street today is an incredible experience," he said. "Last Saturday, I was on Rue de Rivoli, listening to and watching passersby. What joy to hear their positive feedback and see that, regardless of their age, they recognize themselves in these images!"

When describing Parisian youth, Lawson-Body emphasizes their diversity and unique characteristics. "Paris is magical and so is its youth. It's multiple, multicultural, original, and well-groomed. It's also long-haired, curly-haired, punk," he observed. What particularly strikes him is their environmental awareness. "I wouldn't say they're more politicized, but they have a different sensitivity to what's happening around them. This change is undoubtedly due to the digitalization of society."

Despite the digital age's influence, Lawson-Body notices a resurgence of young people seeking to differentiate themselves from the masses. Some choose not to own cell phones, attend only emerging artists' concerts, buy vinyl records, or shoot exclusively with film cameras. "I think we have a lot to learn from them because they're inspiring," he said. He's already preparing a follow-up to "Young Parisians" that deserves a second book, scheduled for release in 2026, which will include portraits of young people photographed in their bedrooms.

Lawson-Body's approach to selecting and photographing his subjects reflects his artistic influences and humanistic philosophy. Growing up studying the work of Robert Doisneau, Raymond Depardon, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Willy Ronis, and Bettina Rheims, he admires their perspective on cities and inhabitants. "My work is imbued with the same humanism: I only want to show positive things," he explained. "Even though I understand the taste for trash, it's not my approach: it doesn't suit me or nourish me."

His preferred method involves walking with his camera and reflector, observing those who express through their style: "I'm beautiful! Look at me!" When subjects are in front of his lens, he wants them to remain true to themselves. He creates full-body portraits, waist-up shots, tighter frames, and close-ups, focusing particularly on small details like religious symbols, chains, bags, and tattoos. A brief questionnaire he has subjects complete helps him better understand who they are, which he considers essential to his work.

The street exhibition represents a full-circle moment for Lawson-Body, bringing his intimate portraits of Parisian youth back to the very streets where they were captured, creating a dialogue between past and present generations of the city's young residents.