Francophiles may know Raymond Depardon for his photographi work, but perhaps a little less for the documentaries he’s been making since the 1980s, together with collaborator and partner Claudine Nougaret, whose work on the sound as just as important as the image.

Their work and archives, of considerable historic importance, have just been donated to the French national library (BNF) and this new exhibition not far from our hotels looks into the audio aspect of their work together, and how it even influenced the images themselves.

Since the 1980s, Depardon and Nougaret have worked on numerous documentaries, a body of work that shows the evolution of France, such as its justice system or agriculture, generally through the eyes of ordinary folk.

This new exhibition first takes a look at how the technical equipment they use has radically evolved over the years (especially with the transition from analogue to digital), illustrated with clips from their films.

You’ll see how they prepare before filming, with scouting photos, reports about the sound and rush footage, with posters of the films also on show.

In the second part of the exhibition, visitors enter a ‘cinema’ playing a brand new filmed interview with Nougaret and Depardon talking about the link between image and sound in their work.

An ‘onscreen interactive tool’ apparently allows viewers to appreciate the ‘richness of the language’, and this is the first time the two artists have spoken publicly on how Nougaret’s sound has influenced Depardon’s images.

A book with 70 unseen photos and a new piece of text is also being published to accompany the exhibition (128 pages, 8.90€ ici here at amazon.fr).

The exhibition Claudine Nougaret, dégager l’écoute. Sound in the films of Raymond Depardon is at the BNF (here) from 14th January – 15th March 2020

Open Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-7pm (opens 1pm Sundays)

Closed Mondays and public holidays

Admission: free!

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