A significant art exhibition showcasing the work of photographer Gaël Bonnefon is currently on display at the Department building's main hall in Cité Bessières, Cahors, just steps away from the Le Grand Palais cinema. The exhibition, titled 'Grand Domaine,' will run through November 10, 2025, and features the results of an artistic residency conducted at the Boissor facility in Luzech.
The exhibition documents Bonnefon's remarkable artistic residency, which took place between November 2024 and June 2025 at Boissor, a medical-social complex that supports individuals with disabilities. The Toulouse-based photographer spent three days every two weeks sharing daily life with the residents of this facility, following a project call initiated jointly by the Department and the Agricultural Mutual Association of Boissor.
During his immersive stays, Bonnefon engaged with workers from the ESAT (Establishment and Service for Work Assistance), young people from the IME (Medical-Educational Institute), and residents from various group homes. Throughout his visits, the artist conducted photography workshops covering various techniques including cyanotype, pinhole photography, film photography, and digital photography, while building genuine relationships of trust with the participants.
The result is a compelling series of portraits and landscapes that blend with archival materials from the site, which has been operating since 1967. Bonnefon immersed himself in these historical archives to create a comprehensive visual narrative. 'To all the residents of Boissor, it is an honor to know you,' the photographer testified about his experience.
The exhibition's opening reception drew a large crowd, attended by Catherine Prunet, Vice-President of the Lot Department in charge of education, culture, and youth. Several Boissor residents documented the event with their own cameras, putting into practice the photographic skills they acquired during the workshops.
'Through this artistic residency, the Lot Department reaffirms its commitment to access to art and culture for everyone, particularly for people with disabilities,' Prunet emphasized. She added, 'During the six months of his time at Boissor through his workshops and meetings with residents, Gaël Bonnefon was able to capture the light of each person. The result is there. That of sensitive work, filled with rare and suspended moments, moving beyond the beauty of the works.'
Prunet invited residents of Lot to visit the exhibition in large numbers, stating it 'perfectly illustrates our desire to make culture a vector of inclusion and dignity for all.' She noted that this aligns with the objectives of their mandate project 'Lot A Venir' (Lot to Come), which aims to bring cultural rights to life for everyone.
A book will soon be available to preserve the memory of this residency. To continue this beautiful collaboration, it will be produced appropriately by the Boissor printing house. The entire project was made possible through the support of the CFPPA of Lot and the ARS Occitanie.
The exhibition is free and open to the public Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM and from 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM.
