Secrets du Pays d Ouche

Number 987 out of an edition of 1000 copies. Olivier Mériel is passionate about Normandy, with its turbulent climate, its ancient towns and fishing ports, and its farmland dotted with cows and sheep. The son of a chemist, he lives and works in the small seaside town of Saint Aubin-sur-Mer – just as his ancestors did before him – making photographs that perfectly capture the feeling of history this region is steeped in. Mériel’s landscapes, while dark and moody, ultimately document his search for light. This light is re?ected off the land and as surfaces act as mirrors, they exude a subtle glow that seeps into even the darkest corners. A human presence that is felt but not seen quietly leads us to explore and to contemplate the secrets of this magical place and the profound meaning of existence. Mériel’s work is held in the Maison Européenne de la Photographie and the Fonds National d’Art Contemporain in Paris, and in a number of other collections in France and the United States. Introduction in English and French by Candace Perich.