What the wind erases - Photographs by Olivier MARTEL

During September and October, the Orangerie du Jardin des Plantes will be hosting an exhibition by artist-photographer Olivier Martel entitled "Ce que le vent efface" ("What the wind erases"). This event is co-organized with the Association des Amis du Jardin des Plantes.

"The great adventure of existence is to find where you feel good." - Sylvain Tesson

This quote sums up his search for a place of harmony, where man can finally reconnect with nature, while rediscovering his own inner balance. It resonates with his journey from bailiff to landscape photographer during the 2020 pandemic. Motivated by a deep desire for freedom and a quest for meaning, he turned to this artistic practice, where nature becomes a space for contemplation and resilience.

Theme and artistic approach

His photographic work revolves around the Japanese notion of mono no aware, which is the art of seeing emotion in things and transcribing it, an art of the ephemeral and a melancholy attitude towards this impermanence. Through his practice, he encourages the viewer to contemplate nature not as an object of possession, but as a fragile entity.