The Facts
On September 22, 2026, Centre Pompidou published an interview with photographer Mathieu Pernot, whose works are featured in the exhibition 'Vies minuscules' at the Panthéon in Paris. Pernot, born in 1970, began photographing the Gorgan family, a Roma family living in Arles, in 1995 while a student at the École nationale supérieure de la photographie. Over three decades, the project expanded from community portraits to individual series such as 'Les Gorgan' and photo booth images like 'Priscilla, Cabine du photomaton' (1995). In the interview, Pernot discusses his approach to fragility, his use of archival material, and his practice of compensating collaborators, as with the Afghan notebooks 'Les Cahiers afghans'.
The Signal
The Panthéon exhibition gives institutional visibility to a documentary practice that prioritizes long-term relationships and ethical collaboration. For collectors, Pernot's work underscores the significance of serial and durational projects, which often gain value as they accumulate historical and emotional depth. The interview also highlights a growing trend among photographers to integrate collaborative and compensatory models, a consideration for institutions acquiring such works.
- Artists: Mathieu Pernot
- Museums: Centre Pompidou
- Locations: Paris
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