Photography exhibit of Buddhist monk’s personal journey in Himalayas

Matthieu Ricard. Photo: Charly Gallo/DC
Matthieu Ricard. Photo: Charly Gallo/DC

At the initiative of the Direction des Affaires Culturelles, the Salle d’Expostion on Quai Antoine Ier welcomes an exhibition of photographs by Matthieu Ricard resulting from the personal journey of the famous Buddhist monk and neurobiologist in the Himalayan world.

A Buddhist monk, author, photographer, scientist and founder of humanitarian projects in Asia, Matthieu Ricard began taking pictures at the age of 10. He has said that he learns continuously by discovering the work of other photographers, among them Henri Cartier-Bresson, Ansel Adams, Ernst Haas and Yann Arthus-Bertrand.

“A hymn to beauty … this is how I conceive my humble photographic work. During my fifty years in the Himalayas, I have had the immense fortune to live with great Tibetan masters.

“I was also able to discover the daily life of the Himalayan people, the intimacy of the monasteries, the immensity of the Tibetan highlands, the magnificence of the Nepalese mountains and the serenity of the Bhutanese valleys.”

His works have been the subject of numerous exhibitions all over the world, but also published extensively in magazines, such as National Geographic France, Animan, l’Express and Terre Sauvage.

“The spiritual life of Matthew and his camera are one. From there spring forth these fleeting and eternal images,” Henri Cartier Bresson wrote when the first collection of photos of the Spirit of Tibet was published.

“Half a century in the Himalayas: a hymn to beauty” runs until November 9 at the Salle d’Exposition (4 Quai Antoine Ier). Open Tuesday to Sunday from 1 pm to 7 pm.


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