In the Face of Silence

Born and brought up in the region until the age of 16, this is an area for which photographer Christophe Agou still retains a deep affection. He travelled to the lesser-known parts of the region, where he felt inspired by the silence and moved by the authenticity and charisma of the people he encountered. Over time, and through the gradual process of building trust and friendship, the farmers and their families accepted him and allowed him to both photograph and film their daily existence. The challenge was to go beyond just documenting their labour-intensive lives and present a deeper, more intimate portrait. For Agou, the resultant work is a meditation on life and death as well as the silence and solitude that are ever-present in our lives.