Terres compromises (Swiss Stories 2012, by Matthieu Gafsou) - Swiss Press Award
Du magazin
Matthieu Gafsou
At the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict lies the question of territory and its annexation in settlements. Even if their existence is highly publicized, these settlements – like Israeli territory – are little known and do not evoke images. During a trip between October and November 2010, the Franco-Swiss photographer Matthieu Gafsou cast his eye over these cities, often built like fortresses. His gaze, both formal and sociological, non-militant and dispassionate, paints an ambiguous portrait of Israel and the settlements, avoiding the pitfall of a discourse too premeditated by ideological positions. From the desert to the White Fortresses, from the Dead Sea to Jerusalem, his images plunge us into the territory of the absurd, inviting contemplation and questioning, far from the stereotypes that usually contribute to the description of the region.
