/.../ The dreams of edification harboured by post-colonial society, along with those of modernist architects, were somewhat thwarted by the humanitarian emergency of the 50s and economic centralisation based on Nehruvian socialist ideals finished the job in terms of urban planning. Then, in 1996, a Plan was set up to halt the movement of urban proliferation typical of third world countries in the 80s, the key features of which were massive development of the grey economy and usurpation of public space. Given the monumental changes resulting from the economic opening up of the country in 1991, the authorities are now trying to apply the "Delhi 21" plan (deadline: 2021). Brutally contemporary, Delhi is a jungle everyone is trying to escape and protect themselves from on a daily basis; otherwise this city eats you up. Delhi NCR is a perfect illustration of this paradox: if you make a city better, more people will come and live there; and if more people come, it will start to get worse. The challenges are immense: access to drinking water, public transport networks, energy, pollution, sustainability... Grand Delhi is an archetypal urban territory of the 21st century, led by the forces of globalisation, and the incubator of a very uncertain urban future; an urban Frankenstein.
To read pictures’ captions click on the images hereunder.
Exhibitions
- On show at Maison Européenne de la Photographie, Paris (France), November 09th, 2016 to January 29th, 2017.
- On show at photo festival L’Oeil Urbain, Corbeil-Essones (France), March 31st to May 21st, 2017.
- On show at travel festival Etonnants Voyageurs, Saint-Malo (France), 3d, 4th and 5th of June, 2017.
- On show at photo festival L’Oeil-en-Seyne à la Villa Tamaris, group exhibition from Signatures agency celebrating 10 years of activity, September 30th to Nobember 12th, 2017.
Press review
- La Chronique d’Amnesty International | November 2016 | by Aurine Crémieu
- France Fine Art | 08.11.2016 | by Anne-Frédérique Fer
- France Culture Ping Pong along with photographer Françoise Huguier | 18.11.2016 | by Mathilde Serrell & Martin Quenehen
- Le Nouvel Observateur Temps Réel | 26.11.2016 | by Sylvie Duyck
- Polkamagazine.com | 30.11.2016 | by Laure Etienne
- Actu Photo | 21.12.2016 | by Anais Viand
- France Inter – Regardez Voir | 25.12.2016 | by Brigitte Patient
- Biba Magazine | 05.01.2017 | by Evelyne Eveno
- The Guardian – My Best Shot | 25.01.2017 | by Sarah Moroz
- La Vie Magazine – Grand Format 6 pages | 26.01.2017 | Thanks to Marc Quentin
- Phototech Magazine | Feb-April 2017 | by Mélanie Rostagnat
- Hereunder the publication in Polka Magazine Sept-Oct. 2016, part of the AFD-Polka Grant.