Machines That Save Lives
From April 30 to May 22, the School of Medicine is hosting the exhibition “The Lifesaving Machines” by Austrian artist Reiner Riedler, as part of the16th edition of Boutographies.
A leading figure in contemporary photography, Reiner Riedler is returning to Montpellier once again following his highly acclaimed visit in 2006.
Acclaimed worldwide for his “Fake Holidays” series, which questioned our consumerist approach to tourism, the Austrian photographer returns this year with a body of work devoid of any artifice. A sober yet striking portrayal of the machines that are indispensable to the practice of medicine. Whether machines of the past or present, they take on an unexpected dimension through the photographer’s lens, whose images draw attention to the unique aesthetic of these inanimate heroes. The guest of honor at Boutographies offers a backlit portrait of medical practice, coupled with a reflection on illness and the contemporary condition of the human body. It is also an exploration of the increasingly indispensable role of machines in the practice of medicine.
Spotlight on the Boutographies
For the second consecutive year, the Boutographies are taking over La Panacée, a contemporary culture center housed in the former Royal College of Medicine. For three weeks, the cream of the crop of international photography will gather in Montpellier for an edition that this year gives pride of place to the German-speaking world. With a focus on both documentary work and the visual arts, Boutographies offers viewers a comprehensive overview of contemporary photographic creation. In addition to the main event at La Panacée, a dozen “off-site” exhibitions can be explored in galleries partnered with the event. Alongside the exhibitions, talks, screenings, and readings will punctuate a festival that has made openness to all horizons its hallmark since its inception in 2001.
www.boutographies.com
“The Lifesaving Machines” by Reiner Riedler
April 30–May 22 – Daily from 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. – Free admission
Faculty of Medicine – 2 rue de l’Ecole de Médecine – 34000 Montpellier
