A Magical Summer in New Orleans
Vasantha Yogananthan‘s latest project, Mystery Street series, transports us to the enchanting and humid atmosphere of New Orleans during summer, showcasing the boundless imagination of children. Straddling the line between documentary photography and fiction, Yogananthan presents a realm where reality unfolds a myriad of potential narratives.
The Age of Transience: Capturing the Essence of Change
The fleeting period between childhood and adolescence, typically between the ages of eight and twelve, marks a time of rapid transformation. It is this ephemeral phase, referred to as the age of transience, that Yogananthan previously explored in one of his first series set on a beach in the Camargue region of southern France. As part of the Immersion program by Fondation d’entreprise Hermès, Yogananthan revisits this theme in New Orleans.
New Orleans, with its vivid memories of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, its location below sea level, and the ever-present threat of climate change-induced flooding, offers a heightened awareness of transitory experiences. In Mystery Street, the child serves as a living metaphor for the heart of the city.
Intuition as a Compass: Vasantha Yogananthan’s Artistic Approach
Yogananthan is a photographer who relies on his intuition to guide him. He entered this project without preconceived notions, viewing photography as a means to explore the world. His images are not mere illustrations of preexisting knowledge but opportunities for new revelations.
Rather than conveying a philosophical, political, or poetic concept through his photographs, Yogananthan aimed to uncover the subject matter as he captured each image. This process of discovery is often driven by experimentation, play, chance, instability, and change. It is in the transience of New Orleans and the fleeting moments of epiphany that Yogananthan masterfully captures.
Mystery Street: An Exhibition and Publication
Currently on display at The Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson, the Mystery Street series was produced as part of Immersion, a French-American Photography Commission by the Fondation d’entreprise Hermès, in collaboration with the Fondation HCB and the International Center of Photography.
A book bearing the same title is also available, published by Chose Commune.
