WALK IN PEACE

My project captures the paradoxical nature of the International Military Pilgrimage in Lourdes, a unique event that feels like a movie set. Through intimate moments and striking contrasts, it explores the intersection of faith and military service.

The International Military Pilgrimage in Lourdes is a striking and unique paradox: a sacred event where soldiers from different nations, sometimes from more than 50 countries at once, gather in an atmosphere of devotion, reconciliation, and camaraderie. My project seeks to explore the complexities of this event, capturing moments of vulnerability and intimacy among soldiers, while highlighting the almost surreal ambiance that gives it the feel of a cinematic set.

This event was held annually since 1958 and serves as a powerful symbol of reconciliation and chance for salvation. Lourdes, known for its miraculous healing waters and religious importance, provides a space where these individuals can come to terms with their pasts, offering prayers for peace and unity, a chance to cope with PTSD, traumas, or just see you camarades or, of course, create some political actions.

The project goes beyond mere documentation of the pilgrimage; it delves into the personal experiences of these men and women who are often defined by their role in military service. Through carefully composed images, I aim to reveal the humanity behind the uniform—moments of reflection, gestures of affection, shared spiritual experience that binds them together.

An unexpected juxtaposition with soldiers in uniform and architecture of Lourdes with its religious shops and closed hotels fascinates me because it forces us to confront the contrasts between peace and conflict, spirituality and duty.

The inspiration came to me this way: in early March 2020, I went to Lourdes to pray for my close friends and family, as Russia had attacked Ukraine, and I had many friends there. I was deeply scared and needed to find faith, so I went to Lourdes to cry and pray. Once I arrived, the city fascinated me. I took my small 35mm camera and started taking pictures while walking around. When I returned to Paris, I developed the film, made handprints, and firmly decided that I needed to create something about this place. I began researching and discovered the existence of the military pilgrimage. The following year, in 2023, I attended it for the first time and realized : this project will last.

Technically, this project is shot primarily on my Mamiya 645, which allows me to capture the rich texture and depth of these moments, also it evokes some respect and interest from soldiers, "that weird camera" that allows me to do more intimate photos, in a way.

When I first decided to attend the pilgrimage, I was certain I would approach it with a critical eye. As a profound pacifist, I have always deeply hated any representation of the military and, driven by my utopian ideals, I harbored an anger that the army should not exist. However, my time in Lourdes shifted my perspective. I began to understand the necessity of the military in the context of the world we live in and the complex reality of human nature. This realization did not dissolve my pacifism but deepened my compassion for soldiers—individuals who put their lives in service to protect others. This experience has allowed me to see these men and women beyond their roles, as human beings caught in the conflicts of the world, deserving of empathy and understanding. That is my goal, to share what I saw and felt.