MONUMENTAL exhibition at Les Rencontres d’Arles

MONUMENTAL: The Dome of the Rock by Ziyah Gafić and Notre-Dame de Paris by Tomas van Houtryve, duo exhibition at Les Rencontres de la photographie, Arles.

July 1 to September 29, 2024

The VII Foundation
The Alexandra Boulat Campus
49 Quai de la Roquette
13200 Arles, France

Production & Curation: Yonola Viguerie / Gary Knight / James B. Wellford

MONUMENTAL is an exhibition that fosters discussions on faith, national identity, power politics, social cohesion, colonization, division, and political violence through the symbolism of two of the world’s most important and iconic religious buildings: The Dome of the Rock, in Jerusalem, and Notre-Dame de Paris.

Tomas van Houtryve and Ziyah Gafić had unprecedented access to these iconic religious structures between 2019 and 2023.

The Dome of the Rock was completed in 691 and is the world’s oldest surviving example of Islamic architecture. Today, it is a political lightning rod between Israel, the Palestinians, and the Muslim world.

Since its completion in 1260, Notre Dame has been the stage for grand political statements and expressions of divine-human authority. The cathedral has a presence in French cultural and political life that reaches far beyond faith and exceeds that of any other architectural structure in the country.

In parallel to the exhibition are the following talks:

• Talk with Tomas van Houtryve & Gary Knight
hosted by Leica Camera AG
Tuesday, July 2, 2024 17:00 – 18:00 CEST
Hotel Jules César Arles – MGallery
9 Boulevard des Lices
13200 Arles, France

• Symposium: Monumental Photography: Investigating Representations of Colonialism and Nationalism with Dr. David Campbell, Jonathan Long, Dr. Sary Zananiri, Ziyah Gafic & Tomas van Houtryve
Friday, July 5th, 2024, at 15:00 CET
The VII Foundation
The Alexandra Boulat Campus
49 Quai de la Roquette
13200 Arles, France