“La peine” Photography Residency

The artist-in-residence program at Mathis Benestebe at UM is coming to an end. Come see the results of his photographic work, created on the Triolet campus since September 2024!

To conclude her residency, the artist invites you on a journey into space through her exhibition titled *La peine*.

The sentence

The exhibition features 39 photographic self-portraits printed on Mylar, an experimental film, a giant photo wall displaying portraits of students and staff, and a handmade spacesuit.

“It’s better to try something than to do nothing. That’s the path I’m exploring in this new work, titled *La peine*, developed during my residency at the University of Montpellier. It’s about trying to break free from this state of numbness, when the world is filled with so much violence and our actions seem futile. In this accepted despair, I choose to act alone—absurdly alone—but to act nonetheless. To give in to the temptation to save myself, to desert the world and its countless challenges.”

Excerpt from Mathis Benestebe's introductory text.

Mediation Program

• Guided tour in English: Wednesday, November 5, and Thursday, November 27, 2025 / 11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
• "It Was on Earth That I Found Joy" Photo Contest: November 12–30, 2025
• "Image Analysis" Tours: Monday, November 17 / 11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
• "Journey Through Time" Art and Science Tour: Thursday, November 20 / 12:00 p.m.
• Tour and stargazing: Tuesday, November 25 / 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
• Creative Writing Workshop: Wednesday, December 3 / 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
• Guided tours with the artist: Monday, December 8, and Tuesday, December 9, 2025
• Roundtable discussion (registration required): Thursday, December 11, 2025 / 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM (more details to come)

Questions and Information

• By email
• By phone: 04 67 14 48 34 (Monday through Friday)

A residency organized by the Art & Culture Department – Campus Life Division of the University of Montpellier, co-funded by the CVEC (Student and Campus Life Contribution), with support from the DRAC Occitanie.