Bord de Mer (Seaside), published by Contrasto, is a series of photographs taken by Gabriele Basilico in Brittany and Normandy, between 1984 and 1985, for the Delegation for Planning and Regional Action Photographic Mission, better known as the DATAR Photographic Mission. He had worked on its conception and had made modifications to the 1990 first edition.
“The challenge of this new book is the confirmation of my need to periodically look over my archives, to discover things never before published, to put together new sequences,” Basilico explains.
Paola Sammartano
Paola Sammartano is a journalist specialized in the art of photography and based in Milan, Italy.
Gabrile Basilico, Bord de Mer
by Angela Madesani
text: Italian/ French
4th edition
Published by Contrasto
In a very different register but with a very strong power of protest, two small fascicules devoted to the migrants, and in particular to the jungle of Calais, were published during the year 2016.
The first one is a bootleg version of “Calais Mag”, the municipal bulletin that the mayor of Calais did not write. This special edition is a fake magazine in which the mayor of Calais renounces the construction of the enormous “Heroic Land” amusement park that the French state has committed to finance as a compensatory measure to the disagreement caused by the massive arrival of migrants, but also to reverse the “degraded” image suffered by the city of Calais due to the presence of migrants in the neighbourhood. Published by the PEROU (Pôle d’Exploration des Ressources Urbaines – Urban Resources Exploration Pole, collective of researchers, architects, landscape designers, graphic designers, photographers, sociologists, economists, lawyers and civil society stakeholders), this book proposes to “reinvent Calais” by allocating the money for the construction of the amusement park, to other projects aimed at fostering good integration, welcoming migrants and, above all, providing decent living conditions for all these people.
This version of Calais Mag is a sort of intermediate restitution of all the studies carried out on the jungle by the members of PEROU and lists the different actions carried out or yet to come. Originally published in 8000 copies, the magazine was distributed to all the inhabitants of Calais. A4 size with 32 pages.
The second one, “Immo Refugee”, is exactly the same size with also 32 pages. Published by Defrost.ed – Marco Tiberio and Maria Ghetti. The series of photographs were made with a typological approach of all kind of constructions present in the “new jungle” around Calais for the subject : Invisible Cities. Architecture of Exodus.
What is now called the migrant crisis is a global problem between poor countries, at war and/or in which populations are threatened, oppressed, massacred… and rich countries, who refuse to share their wealth. This situation leads people to take enormous risks, simply to try to do what every human being would do to shelter his family and to provide decent living conditions. This magazine is a pastiche of the fascicles of real estate sales abundantly present in our mailboxes or in our newspapers and it remarkably reaches us, forced to face our own contradictions of Westerners. The book uses all the codes of capitalism to the excess. Photos of makeshift shelters constructed by migrants are here proposed for sale by habitat types and geographical areas (the Sudanese area, the Eritrean area …). Of course the contrast works perfectly when we see these makeshift huts described according to our standards of traditional comfort, touting the proximity of shops or the quality of insulation. There are even “Best offers” and “Best deals” or attractive offers of “prosperous business at a competitive price”.
All this could be laughing, but the laughter turns sour, up to the cover of the magazine with a tent proudly displaying the French flag, hope of a reception in the country of the human rights that seem long time forgotten. Published in an edition of 1000 copies, which is far too small, this book should be studied in schools … And last but not least, part of the revenues of the book sale will be destined to an Italian association based in Ravenna dealing with unaccompanied minor refugees.
More info : http://www.perou-paris.org/
http://www.defrostudio.eu/immorefugee
Title:
ImmoRefugee
Artist: Defrost Studio (Maria Ghetti, Marco Tiberio)
Designer: Emilio Macchia
Editor: Defrost Studio
Imprint: Defrost.ed / Self published
Printer: Tipografia moderna / Ravenna, Italy
Publication date and place: November 2016 / Ravenna, Italy Edition: 1000
Format, binding: Softcover / saddle stitch
Size: 21 × 29,7 cm
Number of pages and images: 32 pages / 79 images
Type of printing and paper: Offset / Matte coated paper, 115 g
Book Description: Useful guide to the properties in the refugee camp of Calais. The residential area of the “New Jungle” is a large residential area in the outskirts of Calais, France. Surrounded by a 5 meters-high metallic fence and equipped with running water and lights, the “New Jungle” offers different housing typologies, both old and newly built.
ImmoRefugee was selected by Martin Parr for the Kassel Photobook Award 2017, as one of the best photographic books of the year.
"This zine by Defrost Studio is a welcome antidote to the many photographic projects that have emerged around the refugee crisis. Using the notorious and now destroyed Jungle camp in Calais, they copy the graphics and tone of a holiday let brochure. Brilliant at the same time. "
- Martin Parr
