Exhibition Opening in Honor of Matthieu Chazal
The gallery «#ARTODESSA» at the Summer Theater of the City Garden is pleased to announce the opening of a new exhibition dedicated to the memory of Matthieu Chazal (1975–2024), an outstanding French photographer who tirelessly sought beauty at the intersection of Eastern and Western cultures.
Matthieu first visited Odesa in 2011, and since then, his connection with the city has only deepened, especially after the Russian invasion beginning in March 2022. He fell in love with Odesa, and together we dreamed of establishing a photography home in this city. Although Matthieu is no longer with us, our shared dream continues to live on.
Matthieu Chazal (1975 – 2024) was not only a photographer but also a laureate of numerous awards, documenting life along the borders of East and West. A lover of life, he spent nearly two decades traveling from the Balkans to the Caucasus, exploring Greece, Armenia, Ukraine, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran in search of beauty, yet his path was always shadowed by the horrors of war. Despite not considering himself a war photographer, his works became a significant chronicle of some of the worst conflicts of this century. With a philosophical mindset, Chazal created images that offered profound reflections on life amidst the tragedies of war. Soldiers sip tea during breaks between battles, enjoy peaceful moments, swim in rivers, while people shop at markets, laugh, and celebrate. War is only subtly present: a ruined bridge or a broken umbrella. Life remains at the center, its fragility making it all the more precious.
Official opening: April 22 at 5:00 PM
The event will feature Levantine music performed by Dmytro Zemskyi – it promises to be a celebration, just as Matthieu would have loved.
