What is a man today? And more precisely, what is his place in contemporary Mauritian society? How does he define his masculinity and his relationship to women? These were the questions in the minds of the four Mauritian artists forming part of the Médium collective, Karl Ahnee, Stéphane Huët, David Rogers and Mathieu Pigeot. Their multidisciplinary work, Zom res zom? was sponsored by Moka Smart City. Find out more.
An encounter with men
David is a visual artist, entrepreneur, graphic designer and art director; Karl is a photographer, graphic designer and visual artist; Mathieu is a cultural project manager, curator and photographer; and Stéphane has a journalism background.
Between June and October 2021, they took to the streets of the island with a camera, a recorder and their curiosity to interview more than 60 passers-by. A piece combining photography and audio interview has been created for each of them to offer a unique immersive experience to the audience.
Zom res zom? is both “a project that is a mirror of society’s own reflection and an introspective one, forcing us to take a step back and question ourselves and others, but also to listen to others (and to ourselves!),” says Karl. What strikes us in the work? It reminds us that men are not singular; that masculinity is not linear; and that it does not escape gender stereotypes. Masculinity is as complex and plural as femininity, which we are much more used to talking about openly. In the light of these encounters, Médium calls for a redefinition of masculinity. “Without this, can we hope to build a gender-equal society for all?”
Zom res zom? in the streets of Moka
Moka Smart City has sponsored the project to show its support for arts and culture. “Moka was immediately struck by the idea of the project and it was therefore natural for us to invite the city to join the adventure,” says Mathieu. “The project is part of Moka’s approach to enhance the life of its people through artistic and cultural experiences.”
In addition to the virtual gallery on the Médium website, the photographs have been on display since Friday 10 December 2021 in the streets of the Telfair neighbourhood, around La Promenade, a pedestrian walkway that is very popular with residents. They are also exhibited in the streets of Curepipe, Port Louis and Mahébourg. Passers-by can use a QR code provided on each photo to access the audio interviews.
A screening of Zom res zom? followed by a discussion will take place at a forthcoming edition of the photography meetings, “Parlons Photo” and the works will be published online on the Médium website.
For more information:
W : medium-art.org
E : [email protected]
Photos: © MÉDIUM
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