A Journey into the Ruins of History

Fondation HCB in Paris presents the exhibition ‘La ruine de sa demeure’ by Mathieu Pernot. On show until June 12, 2022.

The exhibition ‘La ruine de sa demeure’ by Mathieu Pernot – winner of the 2019 HCB Award – takes viewers on a visual journey through Lebanon, Syria and Iraq.
The starting point is a travel album by Pernot's grandfather from 1926 detailing a route from Beirut to Mosul – from the ruins of thousand-year-old civilizations in the Middle East, to those of the tragedies of recent history. Using an almost documentary approach, Pernot has created a dialectical body of work that juxtaposes major historical narratives with his own family history.

Pernot began his project in September 2019 in Beirut. Despite numerous obstacles, he managed to expand on his grandfather's travels by making his own way to Aleppo and Mosul – an experience he described as “a journey into the ruins of history”. The resulting exhibition comprises around 40 of the French photographer’s prints – along with his grandfather's photo album, pictures from his family archive, and photos found in the destroyed houses of Mosul.

For further details visit
Fondation Henri Cartier Bresson
Mathieu Pernot