As part of "My Summer in Nice"

Exhibition Outside the Walls

100% Mask in Nice

Looks... on a Spring like no other

Bruno Bébert Photographer

June 24-August – 31, 2020

Place Masséna - Promenade du Paillon - Nice

As part of the summer's event and cultural plan launched by the City of Nice, photographer Bruno Bébert, in partnership with IMS and the City of Nice, created the exhibition "100% Mask in Nice", to be discovered on the gates of the Promenade du Paillon from June 24 to August 31, 2020 (installation on June 23). This exhibition outside the walls pays tribute to those who wore a mask in this unique period to respect the gestures barriers, or braved the virus to allow others to heal, feed, move...

In this year 2020, our world has experienced an upheaval never imagined before. In Nice, the importance of this health crisis was quickly taken into account and preventive measures alerted the entire population to the need for increased vigilance. This accountability has led to strong citizen responsiveness at every stage of the pandemic. When the wearing of the mask was highly recommended in the public space, many Niçoises and Niçoises gave free rein to their imagination and inventiveness. Some made them on their own, others customized those offered by the City of Nice and some bought them commercially. Colors, patterns, creativity have emerged as positive bulwarks to fight this virus.

Bruno Bébert, a photographer, had the idea to immortalize these Nice faces. "100% Mask in Nice" is a series of 100 portraits made in the streets of the city. At random encounters, each of the people crossed lent themselves with pleasure, in the space of a few seconds, to this improvised photo shoot. For Bruno Bébert, this photographic and artistic work that he wished to offer to the city is a "testimony-homage" to the people of Nice.

In these 100 portraits, Bruno Bébert also photographed some Nice artists (Ben, Moya, Svetà, Taride...). He also wished to pay tribute to all those who were on the front line during the spring of 2020: carers (doctors, nurses, hospital maintenance staff), firefighters, police officers, garbage collectors, cashiers...

An 18-panel photographic fresco (2m50 x 1m50) will be presented to the public at the entrance to the Promenade du Paillon in Masséna Square, echoing the statue of the Apollo and its giant "#protégeons us" mask.