Visa pour l'image - Perpignan 2007
France - Perpignan - until Septembre the 16th.
PR : Visa pour l'Image is now 19 years old.
And these nineteen years have been devoted to promoting a certain type of photography analyzing events around the world and going beyond the coverage presented by the traditional medial. Some people may find this attitude provocative, but that is the goal, as this is the only way of exposing and speaking out against so many negative forces in the world.
Visa pour l'Image is an event supported by 4000 professionals working in photography and who come from many countries. 2007 will also be a milestone year, registering the three millionth visitor, and this gives an idea of the scope of the festival and the way it has grown.
Visa pour l'Image is not a festival of glitter, and it must continue to expose all the dramatic events which, unfortunately, still prevail and spread, while people so often turn their backs on a spirit of kindness or tolerance to fellow humans, doing so for any number of reasons (e.g. ethnic, religious, economic or political reasons, or simply for personal ambition). Every day more numbers are added to the already millions of victims - abused, forced to join groups or militia, or exterminated - so many innocent victims.
Visa pour l'Image also has its own battle to wage, defending a profession under threat with a wabe of restructuring, and defending individuals in cases of hostage-taking, an ever more prevalent threat, and sometimes reality, for photographers and journalists whose only fault has been to pursue the quest for truth out in the field, despite the dangers involved.
They are not reckless, they are simply doing their job, and we are duty bound to condemn any such violations of human rights and freedom. Visa pour l'Image asserts its commitment. The event is built around basic values of respect for individuals and individual rights. You may rest assured that we shall not shift from that position.
Guy Peron June 2007