Close to the Heavens

The Musée de la Photographie Charles Nègre in Nice, Southern France, presents photographs by Jacques Borgetto: Si près du ciel, le Tibet will be on display from February 15 to May 26, 2020.

The French intellectual Georges Bataille once spoke of “the mystery that is Tibet”. And indeed, the region known as the Roof of the World has always exuded a unique and irresistible fascination — not least for the globe-trotting photographer Jacques Borgetto. Since 2007 he has repeatedly travelled to Tibet in different seasons, staying for several weeks each time. During these visits he has shared in the everyday existence of the nomads of the high plateaus, as well as the humble lives of monks in remote monasteries.

For the most part, Borgetto captured his impressions in black and white, interspersed with just a small number of colour photographs. The resulting body of work offers profound insights into a simple yet deeply spiritual reality and its centuries-old traditions. Yet his photographs also document the first signs of modern life in this enchanted world, and pay tribute to a culture that is in danger of disappearing forever.

For further information visit
Musée de la Photographie Charles Nègre
Jacques Borgetto