Support a Franco-Australian Photography Project
Franck Gérard | Solastalgia in Western Australia
Seeking Patrons / Partners
What: A photographic documentation of Western Australia by acclaimed French photographer Franck Gérard, who has never visited Australia.
Why: To explore solastalgia, the Australian concept describing distress when our home environment transforms, through fresh European eyes. This uniquely Australian philosophical contribution to environmental discourse deserves international artistic exploration and recognition.
How: Through artist residency, exhibition, and publication, creating a lasting Franco-Australian cultural bridge.
I'm seeking patrons, corporate foundations, cultural organisations, and visionary individuals to help bring this project to life.
About Franck Gérard
Franck Gérard, born in Poitiers in 1972 and a graduate of the École des Beaux-Arts de Nantes, is an accomplished French photographer whose work has been exhibited at prestigious venues including Centre Georges Pompidou-Metz and the Rencontres Internationales de la Photographie d'Arles.
Described as a "hunter of reality," Gérard tracks down the originality of everyday life with humour and kindness, placing human beings at the heart of his work. As he wanders through public spaces, he captures snapshots of life, comical or atypical situations that renew the walker's vision of their environment.
His significant publications offer insight into his artistic methodology. "En l'état" (As It Is) documents his photographic journey since 1999, capturing everyday environments and human interactions with a unique perspective. His work on "Calanques" demonstrates his ability to immerse himself in natural landscapes, combining photography with written reflections to create a visual journal of his daily walks through Marseille's calanques.
The Solastalgia Project: Why Western Australia?
Solastalgia, coined by Australian philosopher Glenn Albrecht, describes the distress caused when one's home environment undergoes negative transformation. Unlike nostalgia (missing a place you've left), solastalgia is the pain experienced when you remain in a place that is changing around you.
Western Australia embodies this tension perfectly. Its extraordinary natural beauty coexists with intensive resource extraction, rapid urban development, and the visible impacts of climate change. This landscape would provide an ideal canvas for Gérard's distinctive photographic style, which bridges urban observation and intimate documentation of natural environments.
What makes this opportunity particularly compelling is Gérard's fresh perspective. Having never visited Australia, he would approach Western Australia without preconceptions, capturing the territory through European eyes while developing his distinctive narrative connecting people to landscapes.
Artistic Vision
The project would document:
- Transforming landscapes: Areas experiencing environmental or industrial change
- Human connections: How Western Australians relate to their changing environment
- The friction zones: Spaces where urban development meets wilderness, industry meets conservation
- Emotional geography: The psychological relationship between people and place
Following his methodology from the Calanques project, Franck Gérard would combine photography with written daily reflections, creating a complete artistic document that tells Western Australia's story through both image and word.
The Opportunity
I envision sponsoring a unique French-Western Australian artistic collaboration, ideally incorporating:
- Artist residency: 2-3 months allowing deep immersion in Western Australian landscapes and communities
- Exhibition: Public presentation of the resulting work in Perth and potentially other Australian cities
- Publication: A bilingual art book documenting the project
- Cultural exchange: Connecting French and Australian artistic communities
Following Gérard's methodology from the Calanques project, this would create a complete artistic document telling Western Australia's story through both image and word.
Potential Partners
Who might be concerned:
- Companies committed to responsible development and environmental awareness
- French-Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FACCI)
- Alliance Française
- French Embassy in Australia
- Foundations focused on environmental and cultural themes
- Individual philanthropists and art patrons
These partnerships would connect French and Australian artistic communities while ensuring broad public access. A unique opportunity to support an international project exploring the Australian concept of solastalgia through a European lens, contributing to cross-cultural dialogue and Western Australia's cultural legacy.
A Note on Sensitivity
I recognise that solastalgia as a subject could be considered sensitive, particularly for industries like mining and resource extraction. However, this also presents an opportunity for these sectors to demonstrate environmental awareness and commitment to sustainable practices. Gérard's approach is observational rather than accusatory—he documents "what is" with humanity and nuance, not judgment.
Companies like those in Western Australia's resource sector might find value in supporting art that honestly engages with environmental transformation, demonstrating sophisticated understanding of their social license and commitment to genuine dialogue about environmental stewardship.
Why Support this project?
This collaboration offers:
- Cultural diplomacy: Strengthening France-Australia cultural ties through contemporary art
- Unique documentation: A significant artistic record of Western Australia at a pivotal moment
- International profile: Exhibition potential in both Australia and France
- Legacy: A lasting contribution to Australian and French photographic archives
- Corporate responsibility: For business sponsors, a demonstration of cultural and environmental engagement
Learn More About Franck Gérard
To understand Gérard's approach to photography, I recommend watching this excellent conversation (in French) where he discusses his two-decade photographic project and philosophy: "L'urgence de photographier, avec Franck Gérard" - https://apprendre-la-photo.fr/lurgence-de-photographier-avec-franck-gerard/
His website: www.franckgerard.eu
Get Involved and Make it Possible
If you're interested in supporting this Franco-Australian artistic collaboration, whether as a patron, cultural organisation, or through your network, I would be delighted to discuss how we might bring this vision to life.
This project represents more than an exhibition. It's an opportunity to create a meaningful cultural bridge between France and Australia, to document Western Australia through the eyes of a significant European artist, and to contribute to important conversations about place, identity, and environmental change.