The House
The world I was raised in has deliberately separated itself from what mostpeople know. People are still locked in old traditions that dictate their education.They live by codes and recognize one another with ease. There are things you do and things you don’t. I was raised in this world but have always felt out of touch. There is no choice but to find your place. If you don’t, it simply isn’t liveable. Only as a documentary photographer did I discover a way to fit in. Illustrating what I saw and knew so intimately reconciled me with this environment. I naturally chose to capture attitudes and day-to-day life with empathy rather than irony.
I grew up in this building in the heart of Paris, France. My family calls it "the house". My father and his siblings have lived here since they were born. Each floor belongs to one of them. The overall atmosphere is calm. People hardly meet randomly but visit each other sometimes. Each apartment has the same layout but each of them has its own soul. They have in common a collection of family memories.