Photo exhibition marks celebration of the French Presidency of the European Union

A photo exhibition about Europe, with a different perspective in order to celebrate the French Presidency of the European Union, was opened at French Institute in Vientiane on Thursday.
The French Embassy, the European Union Delegation in Laos, and the French Institute jointly organised this exhibition of photographs to celebrate the French Presidency of the EU 2022.

The Ambassador of France to Laos, Mrs Siv-Leng Chhuor (left), and the Ambassador of the European Union to Laos, Mrs Ina Marciulionyte, view the photos on display.

The exhibition consists of photographs of the 27 European capital cities, captured in an original way by French photographer Jean-Marc Caracci. These photos, all in black and white and selected from his collection Homo Urbanus Europeanus, are exhibited at the Alix Aymé Gallery of the French Institute until June 18.
As its name suggests, the series “Homo Urbanus Europeanus”, which is presented at the French Institute, has Europe as its setting, and deals with Man, the human being, his urban part, or the “urban Being”, as the photographer describes it.
The 27 capitals of Europe, in the interpretation of the artist, are exhibited here. The idea of representing each European capital with a black and white photo, without showing in a recognisable way any monument, nor any touristic icon, is original.
Each image in the series, through the precision of its framing and its refined style, sounds like a hymn to urbanity. The character who walks, lands and sneaks through the city, often solitary but no less proud and determined, has the stature of a conqueror.
Moreover, this human presence, captured with finesse, always in the right place at the right time, gives the city an unsuspected majesty.
The exhibition was inaugurated by the Ambassador of France to Laos Mrs. Siv-Leng Chhuor, and the Ambassador of the European Union to Laos Mrs. Ina Marciulionyte, with a large number of guests in attendance.
The exhibition is open to everyone and is free of charge, on view from May 20 to June 18 at the French Institute on Lane Xang Avenue.
Ambassador Chhuor said that from January 1 to June 30 this year, France will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union (FPEU). It takes the role of facilitator among the Member States and brings them together around priority issues, particularly in the field of culture.
France’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union is known simply as the FPEU. With each Member State taking it in turn, the FPEU is a rare opportunity that will not come around again for another 13 years.
Since 1995, France has held the Presidency of the European Union three times (in 1995, 2000 and 2008). In 2022, it will start a new cycle, working as a trio with the Czech Republic in the second half of 2022 and Sweden in the first half of 2023.
The Council of the European Union brings together the ministers of the 27 Member States. During the FPEU, France is therefore responsible for chairing these meetings, monitoring the legislative agenda and pushing forward actions that fall within the EU’s areas of activity.
It is also responsible for initiating dynamics around general orientations and priorities.
In Vientiane, the French Embassy decided to celebrate the FPEU last February at the Residence of France, inviting several ministers of the Lao government, ambassadors, and international dignitaries to unveil the photographic exhibition.

By Visith Teppalath
(Latest Update May 23, 2022)