Expositions > Pupitres de la Nation / The school desks of Nation

Cette série ouvre les portes des salles de classe. Elle dévoile une part oubliée ou méconnue de la mémoire lycéenne : un mode d’expression resté longtemps aux oubliettes de l’histoire de l’éducation. Reflet de l’âme lycéenne, psychanalyse sans praticien ni divan. La table gribouillée ou graffitée marque une volonté de s’approprier un territoire.

L'enquête réalisée en duo par la photographe Aude VINCENT et le journaliste Fabrice HERVIEU à travers les lycées publics de France, a donné lieu à l’édition du livre “Pupitres de la Nation” publié aux éditions Alternatives, un article de presse dans Télérama et de nombreuses expositions partout en France. [Quelques photographies extraites de cette série]

Photographies argentique noir & blanc 24x36 mm, tirages d'auteur sur papier barythé.

The school desks of Nation

           This photographic work provides an opportunity to open the classroom doors and to disclose a forgotten or unfamiliar part of the High school memory, left on the desks - school desks become regularly covered in inscriptions, messages and graffitis. A form of expression that was for a long time consigned to the oblivion of the History of Education.
 
This exploration hides an inexplicable surprise. From high school to high school, the school desks repeat some messages at a significant frequency. It is impossible to know how the message is transmitted. All we know for certain is that boredom, dialogue, love, questions about life, humour, are the reccurent themes.
 
As a window to the high school soul, a psychanalysis without practitioner nor divan, the scribbled or graffited desk shows the will to take ownership of a territory. Years after years, layers of texts and drawings accumulate, requiring a patient archaeological work.
 
           This memory can discreetly fade, because if the wood of yesteryear allowed a better preservation of these messages, the materials of today make their disappearance easier. Modernity washes wither. It erases this invisible and derisory link between pupils, between times, between generations…
This investigation, carried out in pair by the photographer Aude VINCENT and the journalist Fabrice HERVIEU across French high schools, gave birth to the book “Pupitres de la Nation” published by Éditions Alternatives.