Photo Days has invited Brazilian photographer Yan Carpenter to exhibit his compelling work "Giro nos Acessos" at the prestigious Sorbonne Art Gallery's Galerie Soufflot. The exhibition represents a unique opportunity for audiences to experience authentic perspectives from Rio de Janeiro's favelas through the lens of a self-taught artist who lives and works within these communities.
Carpenter, a self-taught photographer born in Rio de Janeiro, has developed a distinctive body of work deeply rooted in his daily experiences in the favelas of the city's north zone. His photography captures intimate fragments of life in these communities, including spontaneous gestures, expressive faces, and suspended moments in time that reveal the subtle vitality of a territory frequently misrepresented in mainstream media. Through his lens, Carpenter offers viewers an authentic glimpse into the rich cultural fabric and human dignity that characterizes these neighborhoods.
The exhibition takes place at the Sorbonne Art Gallery of Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, where Photo Days continues its commitment to fostering dialogue between contemporary artworks and unconventional exhibition spaces. This venue, which serves as both a passage and learning environment, provides an ideal setting for Carpenter's images to connect with a young, curious, and intellectually engaged audience. The interaction between the photographer's work and the university's academic community creates what organizers describe as "a living way of looking" that gives profound meaning to the artistic approach.
The exhibition is part of an ongoing partnership between Photo Days and Sorbonne Art Gallery and serves as a precursor to Carpenter's upcoming artist residency in France, which is being supported by SAM Art Projects. This collaboration highlights the gallery's dedication to presenting diverse international perspectives within the academic setting.
SAM Art Projects, founded in 2009, has established itself as a significant supporter of contemporary art through its comprehensive philanthropic program. The organization operates three main strands of creative support: the annual SAM Prize, which awards 20,000 euros to an artist on the French scene presenting a project intended for a foreign country; SAM residencies, which have successfully welcomed and exhibited more than 20 artists from 19 different countries in France; and carte blanche commissions that provide artists with creative freedom.
Sandra Hegedüs, founder of SAM Art Projects, has recently revived the residency program after its suspension in 2020 due to health-related circumstances. Through this renewal, Hegedüs strengthens her committed support for the production and distribution of contemporary art by actively encouraging artistic exchange between North and South, as well as between East and West. This initiative reflects a broader vision of cultural diplomacy and international artistic collaboration.
The Sorbonne Art Gallery, established in 2015, operates as a contemporary art gallery situated in the heart of Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. Under the direction of Yann Toma, the gallery is managed by the ArtFlux research team and is housed in the historic Galerie Soufflot. The venue offers a rich and varied programming schedule designed to create a dynamic circuit of artistic experiences and shared knowledge among students, professors, art professionals, and general visitors.
With more than 70 exhibitions to its credit, the Sorbonne Art Gallery has established itself as a significant force in advancing scholarly approaches to art and research-creation. The gallery regularly welcomes artist-researchers from around the world, consistently inviting the public to view and understand the world from fresh perspectives. This mission aligns perfectly with Carpenter's work, which challenges conventional narratives about favela communities.
The exhibition "Giro nos Acessos" by Yan Carpenter, winner of the SAM 2024 residency, runs from November 7-29 at the Sorbonne Art Gallery, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, located in the Galerie Soufflot at 12 place du Panthéon in Paris's 5th arrondissement. The exhibition offers free entry with a downloadable pass and is open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM, making it accessible to a wide range of visitors interested in contemporary photography and cross-cultural artistic dialogue.
