8 rue Gourjon

The title of this work, ‘8 rue Gourjon’, is also the residential address that all those portrayed in it share. They live in one of the many apartment blocks in the La Joliette quarter of Marseille, which is being renovated as part of an urban project known as Euromed and developed into an important economic centre for the city. What this means for the socially and financially disadvantaged population of the quarter is uncertain.

The residents were photographed in their apartments at 8 rue Gourjon, where they were all still living when the pictures were taken. The first ones originate from 2003, when I also lived in the house for a year. Since then I have been coming back every year and knocking on the doors of the old and new residents of this block of flats. Depending on their social, cultural, or private situation, the doors may remain closed (for reasons of illegality, religious motives, health or poverty, to name but a few).

Through exact observation and recording of the places where these families live and meeting them in their private spaces, I have tried to better understand their cultural and social conditions and their everyday lives.

Photography plays an important part in this process by capturing images of the residents in their apartments. Their homes are typical of this residential quarter in the middle of Marseille, whose existence is threatened by political and economic decisions.

Aus/From «8 rue Gourjon», 2003-2013
C-prints