Aotearoa New Zealand, Protectors of the Lost Ark – The Exhibition
This exhibition is available for rent: it is modular and can be adapted to your site.
This exhibition is the result of years of work in close collaboration with the protectors of New Zealand’s endemic wildlife and flora, especially with the New Zealand Department of Conservation – Te Papa Atawhai, and the support of the France/New Zealand Friendship Fund,
It showcases my encounters with a biodiversity that is as fascinating as it is fragile.
It illustrates the unwavering dedication of those involved in its preservation: remarkable and determined women, men, and children. Without their commitment, many species would be extinct today.
First presented in 2013 at the Musée Bossuet de Meaux, the exhibition has since been displayed at the International Wildlife and Nature Photo Festival in Montier-En-Der (2013), the Palais du Roi de Rome in Rambouillet (2014), the Bird and Nature Festival in Baie de Somme (2015), and the International Antipodean Cinema Encounters (2016).
This multimedia concept combines photographs accompanied by information panels presenting species conservation programs, illustrated posters describing the archipelago’s uniqueness, biodiversity, and protection efforts, as well as a video giving a voice to local actors in the field. Each presentation features an original scenography.
My work on Aotearoa’s biodiversity would not have been possible without the invaluable initial support of Kevin Evans and the help of all the protectors of New Zealand’s wildlife and flora whom I had the chance to meet. I am pleased to present them in the exhibition, with Rangi te-ao-re-re-Raki as their spokesperson.
Most of my photographs and videos in the archipelago were made possible by the dedication, patience, and wildlife knowledge of Ros Cole and Les Moran from the New Zealand Department of Conservation.
This exhibition was made possible with the precious help of Benoit Boudin, Eric Baude (photo processing and setup), Denis-Pierre Guidot (Adobe Creative Cloud), Bernard Thomas, Guy Dassonville, Alain Tombois (Canon France), Pascal Bourguignon – Déclic éditions (prints), Claire Waddington (translations), Lorraine Auffray, Martine Aiache, and Ghislaine Joubert (text revisions), Patrick Blin – Blin plus Blin (prints), Alain Even (setups), Olivier Cazé and Luis Casiano (always by my side). And let’s not forget the phenomenal work of the festival volunteers!
The exhibition presented in Rambouillet as seen by the New Zealand Department of Conservation / English version!
Watch on my Vimeo channel the video I made with my New Zealand friends: “Aotearoa, New Zealand, Protectors of the Lost Ark”
And on my YouTube channel:
