golden houses

The cold age comes, and is forced to endure what was built, kneaded, stopped, by the fire age, and to deprive itself in spite of itself of what was voluntarily renounced in the fire age. The mature man is housed in the shell of a young man who has disappeared.

Between the two ages, a time of struggle and discomfort. Ambition is the feeling of foresight. A little more money, a little more power, and honors, to compensate for what weakens, what falls, what darkens, what falls asleep, what withers…

Paul Valéry, Notes et pensées inédites. Ed. de la Revue Le Capitole

In 2008, I went to Burkina Faso to scout locations for a documentary. Based in Ouagadougou, I walked around as I usually do when I arrive in a new city. A friendly way of getting to know each other.

The neighborhood we’re in is booming. Many buildings are under construction. No workers, or so few that they seem unfinished for a long time, asleep, waiting – who knows? – who will want to live in these palaces that dream of outdated grandeur under the sub-Saharan dust.

golden houses– 2008 (12 photos) – Hahnemühle Photo Rag Ultra Smooth 305g / 50 cm x 35 cm