French-Ivorian photographer François-Xavier Gbré has unveiled his groundbreaking photographic series "Radio Ballast" at the prestigious Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson in Paris, marking a significant milestone as the first laureate of the Latitudes program. The exhibition, which opened in 2025, represents a collaborative effort between multiple cultural institutions and will embark on an international tour, traveling to the International Center of Photography (ICP) in New York in 2026 and concluding in Côte d'Ivoire in 2027.

The ambitious project is accompanied by a comprehensive publication co-published by Atelier EXB and the Fondation d'entreprise Hermès, ensuring the work reaches a broader international audience. Gbré's artistic focus has consistently centered on documenting traces of human activity, and for approximately fifteen years, he has dedicated his practice to photographing the lasting imprints of human presence on the landscape and architecture throughout the African continent.

In 2024, supported by the Latitudes program developed by the Fondation d'entreprise Hermès, Gbré embarked on an extensive photographic journey following the railway line that traverses Côte d'Ivoire from north to south. This railway infrastructure holds profound historical significance, as it was constructed during the French colonial period with the specific purpose of extracting the country's valuable natural resources and transporting them to the strategic port city of Abidjan, from where they would continue their journey to mainland France.

Gbré's photographs capture what can be described as a latent historicity, weaving together multiple temporal layers that span different eras of Ivorian history. These visual narratives encompass the colonial period, the transformative post-independence years, and more recent contemporary events, creating a complex tapestry of historical memory and present-day reality.

The project's title, "Radio Ballast," carries dual symbolic meaning rooted in railway terminology and culture. The word "radio" refers to the essential on-board communication device that train drivers use for operational coordination, while "ballast" describes the foundational bed of crushed rock upon which railway tracks rest. However, in railway jargon, the term "ballast" also encompasses a more metaphorical meaning, referring to rumors of uncertain origin—vague, unfounded news that represents a mixture of assumptions and gossip, creating interwoven and often contradictory narratives.

As exhibition curator Clément Chéroux, who also serves as Director of the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson, explains in his curatorial statement, "It's easier to imagine that such rumors come from the tracks themselves. History often resembles such a rumor. It is never simple, but rather diverse, intertwined, or diffracted. It is up to the artist to propose forms of synthesis. This is precisely what François-Xavier Gbré has sought to depict here."

The exhibition "François-Xavier Gbré: Radio Ballast" will remain on display at the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson until January 11, 2026. The foundation is located at 79, rue des Archives in the 75003 district of Paris, with additional information available at henricartierbresson.org. The collaborative partnership includes Atelier EXB and the Fondation d'entreprise Hermès, highlighting the international scope and cultural significance of this important photographic work that examines colonial legacy and contemporary African identity through the lens of infrastructure and memory.