Eric Bourret
Éric Bourret (b. 1964, Paris, France) is a renowned artist whose work bridges art, ecology, and environmental advocacy. Living and working in the South of France and the Himalayas, Bourret defines himself as an “artist-walker,” drawing inspiration from the traditions of Land Art. His practice emphasizes a profound connection to nature, unveiling the fragile beauty of the planet while raising awareness of humanity’s impact on the environment.
Since the early 1990s, Bourret has spent six months each year traversing the globe on foot, exploring and photographing a wide variety of landscapes across altitudes and latitudes. His immersive journeys result in what he describes as “experiences of walking, experiences of the visible.” These images capture the physical and sensory transformations brought about by prolonged immersion in nature, shedding light on the intricate relationship between humans and their environment.
By superimposing multiple views of a single landscape onto one negative through a precise and rigorous process, Bourret captures the imperceptible rhythms of geological and vegetal time while highlighting humanity’s ephemeral existence. His work invites viewers to reflect on the ancient temporal and ecological forces that shape our world.
Bourret’s photographic process embraces a form of “controlled chance,” celebrating the serendipitous outcomes of his encounters with nature. This approach produces images that oscillate between permanence and flux, offering a vibrant and almost kinetic depiction of the landscapes he traverses. As he describes his work: “The landscapes I walk through—and that walk through me—shape who I am. I experience and conceive the photographic image as a receptacle of forms, energy, and meaning.”
Bourret’s art serves as a call to action, encouraging viewers to reflect on the urgency of environmental preservation. His detailed walking logs, which document dates, locations, distances, and durations, underscore the rhythms of nature and the interconnectedness of space and time. This meticulous documentation amplifies the ecological message that underpins his work, making it both deeply personal and universally relevant.
Since 1990, Éric Bourret’s work has been exhibited widely and acquired by prestigious collections across Europe, North and South America, and Africa. Notable institutions include the Finnish Museum of Photography in Helsinki, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Tamaulipas in Mexico, the Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain in Nice, the Picasso Museum in Antibes, the Xie Zilong Art Museum in Changsha, China, and the Maison Européenne de la Photographie in Paris.
He has also participated in major exhibitions and art fairs, such as the 56th Venice Biennale; the Shenzhen Art Museum in China; Joburg Contemporary African Art, Johannesburg; L’Espace de l’Art Concret, Mouans-Sartoux; AKAA Art Fair, Paris; the Sapar Contemporary Gallery, New York; the Centre de la Vieille Charité, Marseille; Paris Photo at the Grand Palais; the André Malraux Museum of Modern Art in Le Havre; and the Centre d’Arts et de Nature at the Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire.
Through his art, Éric Bourret reveals the beauty and fragility of natural spaces, reminding us of our collective responsibility to protect them. His work stands as a vital intersection of art and environmental consciousness.
Éric Bourret (b. 1964, Paris, France) is a renowned artist whose work bridges art, ecology, and environmental advocacy. Living and working in the South of France and the Himalayas, Bourret defines himself as an “artist-walker,” drawing inspiration from the traditions of Land Art. His practice emphasizes a profound connection to nature, unveiling the fragile beauty of the planet while raising awareness of humanity’s impact on the environment.
Since the early 1990s, Bourret has spent six months each year traversing the globe on foot, exploring and photographing a wide variety of landscapes across altitudes and latitudes. His immersive journeys result in what he describes as “experiences of walking, experiences of the visible.” These images capture the physical and sensory transformations brought about by prolonged immersion in nature, shedding light on the intricate relationship between humans and their environment.
By superimposing multiple views of a single landscape onto one negative through a precise and rigorous process, Bourret captures the imperceptible rhythms of geological and vegetal time while highlighting humanity’s ephemeral existence. His work invites viewers to reflect on the ancient temporal and ecological forces that shape our world.
Bourret’s photographic process embraces a form of “controlled chance,” celebrating the serendipitous outcomes of his encounters with nature. This approach produces images that oscillate between permanence and flux, offering a vibrant and almost kinetic depiction of the landscapes he traverses. As he describes his work: “The landscapes I walk through—and that walk through me—shape who I am. I experience and conceive the photographic image as a receptacle of forms, energy, and meaning.”
Bourret’s art serves as a call to action, encouraging viewers to reflect on the urgency of environmental preservation. His detailed walking logs, which document dates, locations, distances, and durations, underscore the rhythms of nature and the interconnectedness of space and time. This meticulous documentation amplifies the ecological message that underpins his work, making it both deeply personal and universally relevant.
Since 1990, Éric Bourret’s work has been exhibited widely and acquired by prestigious collections across Europe, North and South America, and Africa. Notable institutions include the Finnish Museum of Photography in Helsinki, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Tamaulipas in Mexico, the Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain in Nice, the Picasso Museum in Antibes, the Xie Zilong Art Museum in Changsha, China, and the Maison Européenne de la Photographie in Paris.
He has also participated in major exhibitions and art fairs, such as the 56th Venice Biennale; the Shenzhen Art Museum in China; Joburg Contemporary African Art, Johannesburg; L’Espace de l’Art Concret, Mouans-Sartoux; AKAA Art Fair, Paris; the Sapar Contemporary Gallery, New York; the Centre de la Vieille Charité, Marseille; Paris Photo at the Grand Palais; the André Malraux Museum of Modern Art in Le Havre; and the Centre d’Arts et de Nature at the Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire.
Through his art, Éric Bourret reveals the beauty and fragility of natural spaces, reminding us of our collective responsibility to protect them. His work stands as a vital intersection of art and environmental consciousness.
