Fibre du monde | July 6 – November 8, Arles Off Festival
Three perspectives, two regions, a shared humanistic sensibility. *Fibre du monde* invites us to pause and look, to listen to what is left unsaid, to feel what is not immediately apparent. Silence comes before the gaze.
Elvira & James Vil photographed in the heart of a gold-mining village in Madagascar. Through this series, they turn their gaze toward a community shaped by work, hope, and solidarity. Behind the quest for gold, what emerges above all are faces, passed-down gestures, and moments of life that speak to the strength of human connection. Gold remains in the background, almost secondary: what emerges are the gazes, the presence, and the stories that inhabit this land. Each print is produced on Antemoro paper, made from Malagasy plant fibers, thereby extending the dialogue between the image, the people photographed, and the land that welcomes them.
A longtime advocate for women’s rights, Muriel Pénicaud shares in the strength, hope, and sisterhood of women in India—in Rajasthan, Bangalore, and the Araku Valley. In this high valley, home to the indigenous Adivasi tribes, she supports the NGO Naandi in its work toward rural development through permaculture, girls’ education, and their social empowerment. The prints, created on Japanese Bizan paper, extend this gesture: the generous strength of the mulberry fiber pays tribute to the courage of these women—weavers of fabrics, bonds, and life—that same fiber of flesh and love that connects us all, like an invisible thread.
An Exhibition in Support of a Good Cause
Muriel Pénicaud, Elvira, and James Vil share the same belief: art is a powerful force for change. All proceeds from the sales will be donated to the charity Ensemble pour les enfants de Madagascar.
Founded by Elvira and James Vil, the organization helped open a school in Ambodimanga in 2024, which now serves 80 children. A new project has now been launched: the construction of a 15-meter canoe designed to extend their efforts to the isolated villages along the Pangalanes Canal—supporting educational projects, transporting supplies, developing responsible tourism, and creating new resources to ensure the school’s long-term sustainability.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Opening: Thursday , July 9, 2026, starting at 7 p.m.
Exhibition on view from July 6 to November 8, 2026
Location: Jules César Hotel & Spa – 9 Boulevard des Lices, 13200 Arles
