Venezuela: The wells run dry

As part of Photo Saint Germain festival

From October 28 to November 22, 2023, Fondation Carmignac presented the exhibition Venezuela - The Wells Run Dry, based on Fabiola Ferrero's photographic report from the 12th edition of the Carmignac Photojournalism Prize.

Combining archival images, videos and photographs, The Wells Run Dry showcased Fabiola Ferrero's 6 months of reporting. Upon entering, visitors were asked to choose between “entering through the past” and “entering through the present”.

The “past” route took visitors on a quest for memories of past generations of prosperity. An echo of the photojournalist's own childhood, which she had to leave behind when she fled the country. The darker “present” section plunged us into gloom, revealing ruins, burnt-out books and deserted streets.

The exhibition was designed by Alice de Bortoli and her Italian studio, Ortiche. Doing without picture rails, the collective imagined an innovative, contemporary layout to tell this tale of two memories of Venezuela. Bénédicte Garby (Agence Reflet) highlighted the reportage and sublimated the prints produced by the Initial Labo photographic laboratory and the custom-made constructions by Stratus. Bizzarri & Rodriguez designed the project's graphic identity, and the PAM production team of Elisabeth Hy and Valérie Anne Le Meur coordinated production, installation and mounting. The exhibition was part of the PhotoSaintGermain Festival program, directed by Aurélia Marcadier.