BEIRUTOPIARanda Mirza Randa Mirza, winner of the Bourses du 1er livre photo, exhibits her “Beirutopia” series at Rencontres d’Arles from July 1 to September 29! The book “Beirutopia”, published by Le Bec en l’Air, is a powerful visual essay on the socio-political and urban transformation of the Lebanese capital. The book is divided into seven parts, chronologically covering the series that Randa Mirza produced over twenty years in Beirut. The images of this protean visual artist are multi-faceted: black-and-white slides, silver photographs, digital prints, video screen captures, montages and collages. Unpublished texts by Randa Mirza and curator and writer Rasha Salti complete this visual approach. Other texts by Lebanese authors selected by the photographer from the abundant existing literature on Beirut, providing an insight into the city’s history. Eyes Wide Open is delighted to support Randa Mirza’s project as part of the 1st Photo Book Grants program (2023 edition). Supported

AGORA CIVIS MARITIMUS Wednesday, June 19 at 6:30 p.m. Halle Tropisme, Montpellier MARINE LANIER Born in Valence in 1981, photographer Marine LanierBorn into a family of horticulturists and sailors, she focuses on questions of life, clan structure, bonding and the call of adventure. Marine Lanier will take us on a journey at the crossroads of her two latest series, Hannibal’s garden and The shipwreck suit. The first takes place in the Jardin du Lautaret, perched at 2100 m, Europe’s highest altitude garden and a unique conservatory for the diversity of Alpine flora. The second takes the form of a maritime tale of groves and oceanic bestiaries, tortured sailors, silent nights, monstrous waves and mysterious depths.image © Manier Lanier “Hannibal’s garden”These photographs were produced as part of the major national commission “Radioscopie de la France: regards sur un pays traversé par la crise sanitaire”, financed by the French Ministry of Culture

AGORA CIVIS MARITIMUS Wednesday, June 19 at 6:30 p.m. Halle Tropisme, Montpellier Rendezvous on Wednesday June 19 at the Tropisme hall in Montpellier for an Agora Civis Maritimus combining photo performances and music between land and sea. Civis Maritimus Agoras are public meetings designed and presented as part of the Civis Maritimus program. They engage spectators in an interactive, embodied and lively relationship with artists on subjects linking human beings and the marine world. Photographers Manon Lanjouère, Marine Lanier, Romain Laurendeau and musician Laurent Marion will talk about the intimate link between humans and the marine world through their work. Vincent Marcilhacy, co-founder of The Eyes and Eyes Wide Open, will present a photographic primer on the sea. With the complicity of the major national commission “Radioscopie de la France: regards sur un pays traversé par la crise sanitaire”, financed by the French Ministry of Culture and piloted by the

CIVIS MARITIMUS, 1ST WAVE A look back at the opening of “Civis Maritimus , 1ère vague” as part of the Itinérances Foto program (Sète) with artists Aliki Christoforou, Alice Pallot, Manon Lanjouère and Charles Thiefaine, and the new winners of the Ronan Guillou 2024 grant: Chiara Indelicato and Cécile Smetana. Photos: © Naomi Pecqueux

RONAN GUILLOU 2024 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS We are pleased to announce the 2 winners of the second edition of the Ronan Guillou Scholarships: CHIARA INDELICATO – italian photographer CÉCILE SMETANA – French-Danish photographer Each award-winning photographer will receive €4,000 and accommodation in Sète from May to July to carry out her project, with final delivery of the elements expected by October 1, 2024. The two photographers will each produce a photographic project addressing social, cultural, ecological and/or heritage issues, linking people and the marine world. The second edition of the Bourses Ronan Guillou is supported by the city of Sète, Montpellier 2028 and Chateau Laurens, a building constructed in Agde from 1898 by collector Emmanuel Laurens. These grants are initiated and organized by Eyes Wide Open as part of the CIVIS MARITIMUS program, in partnership with the Itinérances Foto festival (Sète). A tribute to French photographer Ronan Guillou. Find out more

LES RENCONTRES D’ARLES Randa Mirza, winner of the 1st Photo Book grants #1, exhibits her “Beirutopia” series at Rencontres d’Arles 2024 from July 1 to September 29! The “Beirutopia” book published by Le bec en lair will be out in June! BEIRUTOPIA is a visual essay with a biographical scope, premonitory of the multidimensional crisis – political, financial and social – that Lebanon is going through. This project takes a critical look at the brutal transformation of post-war Beirut through seven works produced between 2000 and 2022. Eyes Wide Open is delighted to support Randa Mirza’s project as part of the Bourses du 1er livre Photo (edition 1) program. Supported by the Ministry of Culture and Saif. For further information, click here