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Dans le creux
Dans le creux
Lys Arango
June 6, 2025
Sarah, a 13-year-old migrant from Ivory Coast living in a social hotel in Paris, eats spaghetti in her room every evening. With her mother working long hours, Sarah often cooks on a small electric stove, highlighting the food insecurity faced by migrants in similar situations. Limited access to proper kitchen facilities and ingredients can lead to a lack of essential nutrients and contribute to poor health
LFI: What inspired you to start this project?
Lys Arango: Since 2019, I’ve been working on a long-term project about hunger around the world. After covering food crises in over twenty countries for the press and humanitarian organizations, I realized I needed to approach the subject in a deeper and more personal way. When the pandemic hit, followed by the war in Ukraine and the energy crisis, I saw how hunger was also silently spreading in Europe, including France. I wanted to confront this contradiction: how is it possible that in one of the world’s largest agricultural powers, millions of people can’t afford to eat properly? That’s how Dans le creux began – a chapter of this global project focuses on hunger in so-called “developed” countries.
How does the title Dans le creux reflect the essence of the project?
In French, Dans le creux can evoke both a physical and emotional hollow. It speaks to emptiness – of a stomach, a fridge, or a moment in life. It suggests fragility, a pause, or a place where one waits for something to change. The people I met were often in a suspended moment of their lives: in the margins of society, or in transition. The title also avoids sensationalism. Hunger in France is discreet, often invisible, and I wanted the title to reflect that subtlety.
What was your photographic approach to the topic of hunger and food insecurity?
My intention was to move away from stereotypical images of poverty. I worked slowly, spending time with the people I photographed, listening to their stories, returning week after week. I wanted to create portraits and images that respected their dignity and complexity. The series is composed of still moments – waiting, gestures, silences – that speak of daily life under pressure. I also included short texts to accompany the images and share their words, their resilience, and their aspirations. I was guided by the idea of making something visible without exposing or reducing anyone to their vulnerability.
What was the biggest challenge you faced during this project?
The biggest challenge was dealing with the invisibility of hunger in France. It doesn’t scream; it whispers. Unlike humanitarian contexts where the crisis is immediately apparent, here the signs are subtle: skipped meals, empty fridges, long waits for food aid. It required a slow, patient approach to understand what was happening and gain people’s trust. At first, many were surprised that someone would take the time to tell their story. Some told me they felt “seen” for the first time – not just as someone in need, but as a person with a story. That meant a lot to me.
How did the Leica M10 support your work?
It allows me to work slowly and deliberately, which is essential when dealing with sensitive topics like food insecurity. Its discreet presence helps create a sense of trust and intimacy, allowing me to be close without being intrusive. The M10 gives me the space to observe, to wait, and to remain present. That rhythm suits my way of working – quiet, patient, and attentive.
Eliza TrappLys Arango: Since 2019, I’ve been working on a long-term project about hunger around the world. After covering food crises in over twenty countries for the press and humanitarian organizations, I realized I needed to approach the subject in a deeper and more personal way. When the pandemic hit, followed by the war in Ukraine and the energy crisis, I saw how hunger was also silently spreading in Europe, including France. I wanted to confront this contradiction: how is it possible that in one of the world’s largest agricultural powers, millions of people can’t afford to eat properly? That’s how Dans le creux began – a chapter of this global project focuses on hunger in so-called “developed” countries.
How does the title Dans le creux reflect the essence of the project?
In French, Dans le creux can evoke both a physical and emotional hollow. It speaks to emptiness – of a stomach, a fridge, or a moment in life. It suggests fragility, a pause, or a place where one waits for something to change. The people I met were often in a suspended moment of their lives: in the margins of society, or in transition. The title also avoids sensationalism. Hunger in France is discreet, often invisible, and I wanted the title to reflect that subtlety.
What was your photographic approach to the topic of hunger and food insecurity?
My intention was to move away from stereotypical images of poverty. I worked slowly, spending time with the people I photographed, listening to their stories, returning week after week. I wanted to create portraits and images that respected their dignity and complexity. The series is composed of still moments – waiting, gestures, silences – that speak of daily life under pressure. I also included short texts to accompany the images and share their words, their resilience, and their aspirations. I was guided by the idea of making something visible without exposing or reducing anyone to their vulnerability.
What was the biggest challenge you faced during this project?
The biggest challenge was dealing with the invisibility of hunger in France. It doesn’t scream; it whispers. Unlike humanitarian contexts where the crisis is immediately apparent, here the signs are subtle: skipped meals, empty fridges, long waits for food aid. It required a slow, patient approach to understand what was happening and gain people’s trust. At first, many were surprised that someone would take the time to tell their story. Some told me they felt “seen” for the first time – not just as someone in need, but as a person with a story. That meant a lot to me.
How did the Leica M10 support your work?
It allows me to work slowly and deliberately, which is essential when dealing with sensitive topics like food insecurity. Its discreet presence helps create a sense of trust and intimacy, allowing me to be close without being intrusive. The M10 gives me the space to observe, to wait, and to remain present. That rhythm suits my way of working – quiet, patient, and attentive.
ALL IMAGES ON THIS PAGE: © Lys Arango
EQUIPMENT: Leica M10, Summicron-M 35 f/2 Asph, Summarit-M 50 f/2.4
Lys Arango+-
The Spanish documentary photographer and writer was born in Madrid and currently based in Paris. She holds a degree in International Relations from the University of Liverpool and a master's in Journalism from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Her work delves into social issues, exploring their historical and cultural contexts. In 2023, she joined Agence VU' and was honored with the Pictures of the Year Environmental Vision Award. The following year, she became a National Geographic Explorer. Her work has been featured in prominent publications including CNN, The Independent, BBC News, Le Monde, and El País. More
Sarah, a 13-year-old migrant from Ivory Coast living in a social hotel in Paris, eats spaghetti in her room every evening. With her mother working long hours, Sarah often cooks on a small electric stove, highlighting the food insecurity faced by migrants in similar situations. Limited access to proper kitchen facilities and ingredients can lead to a lack of essential nutrients and contribute to poor health
In the cramped room of a social hotel in France, a rice cooker sits on the floor as part of a makeshift kitchen. Like many migrants living in such hotels, many people lack access to a proper kitchen and must resort to cooking with limited resources in her room. The lack of adequate ventilation and space can increase the threat of fire, as well as the risk of burns and other injuries while cooking
Hot meals distribution site built out of containers at the Porte de la Villette. Île-de-France. January 6, 2023
Preparation of soup for the La Chorba Association, which distributes it every evening in La Villette, as part of the fight against food insecurity in France. Île-de-France. December 2, 2022
Jean-Pierre Richard, a 72-year-old retired man, takes his daily meal at the La Chorba food distribution centre in La Villette
Samira, 6 years old, from Ivory Coast, has been living with her mother for three years in a social hotel in Paris
More than 700 university students queue for hours to receive a free food basket from the Linkee Association in Paris’s 20th arrondissement
Louise, a volunteer from the La Chorba Association, approaches a tent to offer hot soup to a man living there. Every Monday, she drives around in an NGO car to deliver food to people living on the streets. Île-de-France. December 7, 2022
Rescued from expiration, a refrigerator stocked with meals donated by the SNCF train company and hospitals, awaits distribution by the Linkee Association to support university students
Two university students, Morgane Dayma (19 years old) and Louic (18 years old), head towards the Linkee Association food distribution line in Paris. Food insecurity among university students in France is a growing problem, with many students struggling to afford nutritious meals. Both Morgane and Louic skipped meals due to financial constraints