Philong Sovan

At first the space seemed too big, too alluring, too cluttered with potential images for him to take in on his first visit. He then decided to focus and observe closely.  Coming from afar, he sensed Paris inside the building, yet looking through the windows with an eagle eye, he discovered another world – graffiti, signs, flaking remnants of glued paper, inscriptions, appearing fleetingly on the glass when the light hits them at a certain angle.  A whole mysterious life is revealed in these panes which, while separating you from the city, also offer it up for you to see, fragmented, transformed, tangible and intangible by turn. He waits for the light, composes the shot with his usual precision, approaching so near yet seeing so far, and makes us discover a whole new universe, hitherto unimagined even by those who have known La Samaritaine over the years. Photography as revelation.