Until November 2, 2024, the exhibition room of the Biarritz media library serves as a showcase for the images of American photographer Anne Rearick. A meeting with her is proposed on October 26 (1), just before her work – brought together under the title “Gure bazterrak” (Our landscapes), like her new book – leaves to be shown in San Sebastian.
To be discovered in the exhibition, around thirty silver photographs in deep black and white. Chosen from the hundred grouped in the work, they tell the story of the rural Basque Country as close as possible to those who do it. The event is rare. Anne Rearick’s work is recognized internationally, but, in 34 years of regular stays in these places where she established deep ties, she has rarely had the honors of an exhibition.
You first arrived in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in 1990 because you had won a scholarship. What was your project?
In Idaho where I grew up, there was a lot of Basque immigration. I have always been interested and intrigued by this culture, by the history, the language, the dances… My project was to photograph Basque daily life. I got a one-year scholarship to do it and that’s how I got here. I don’t really like cities. I wanted to go to a rural area. I got off the train at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port a bit by chance, because it was the last stop. It wasn’t easy. I spoke French very poorly. I remember that I lied about my language level in my application. But fortunately, I was immediately very well received.
In the photos in the exhibition, which partly date from this first stay, we feel a closeness with those you photograph. How did you meet all these people?
You have to feel things, know how to take the time. I arrived in mid-October and really started taking photos in December. I first met a group of women who worked for the ELB union and, little by little, thanks to them, I created links with other people and so on. I didn’t have a car so I hitchhiked a lot too, it allows me to meet people… I started taking photos of children, it’s often the easiest because they often have the time. It’s a bit the same with the old ones. They accept more easily.
There are posed or candid photos, moments of life on the farm, children’s games, people posing at home, scenes taken outside. You photograph others, putting yourself at their height. However, in the exhibition, one photo stands out. We see you and an elderly lady. What is special about her?
The first evening when I arrived, I was sitting on a bench and this lady – Mrs Hatoig – came to talk to me. She told me that I could come to her house whenever I wanted. The following Monday, market day, it was raining heavily. I went to knock on his door to take shelter. She opened the door for me, handed me towels and slippers, she made tea. We ate madeleines. Many people were very generous afterwards. She was the first. Throughout the winter, I spent every Wednesday evening at her house. We watched “Sacred Evening”… She became like a second grandmother. This photo was the last one we took together, years later at his retirement home. She died shortly after. I hope we see love there.
You travel a lot. You have projects in different countries or cities but you always come back here every year since your first stay. For what ?
When I came the first time, I wasn’t expecting anything in particular. I knew I had good contacts of course, but I didn’t expect to be so spoiled, welcomed like a local child. I found another family. Of course, Basque culture, the special language, the relationship with roots, all that fascinates me here. But above all there are the people, the connection with the land, the smells, everything.
Course
The images of Anne Rearick, whose work is part of the great documentary photographic tradition, have entered major international public collections such as those of the Bibliothèque de France, the Center national de l’audiovisuel du Luxembourg or the Museum of modern San Francisco art. Member of the VU’ agency, she received prestigious prizes and grants, including the Guggenheim grant – for her work on amateur boxing – and the Roger-Pic prize, awarded by Scam, for her series on the townships of ‘South Africa.
(1) At 11 a.m., at the Biarritz media library.
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