Habiter le jour – Between the Perception of Time and Photobooks

The present is defined by acceleration. Machines take over tasks, communication channels become more efficient, and daily routines speed up. Yet paradoxically, instead of gaining time, we often feel like we have less of it. Sociologist Hartmut Rosa describes this phenomenon as the “shrinking of the present”: a growing alienation from the world around us: from spaces, relationships, objects, ourselves, and even time itself.

The exhibition Habiter le jour investigates how photography – and particularly the photobook – can offer a counteractive response to this condition. Six artistic perspectives focus on the seemingly ordinary and show how there is actually something extraordinary about everything that surrounds us daily, but that remains unnoticed. Despite their diverse approaches, the works share a common attitude: an active engagement with the world to make our different experiences of the present tangible. The interplay between the artworks encourages dialogue and connections that transcend individual viewpoints, opening up collective reflections on human existence, social life, and our relationship to nature.

The exhibition’s title – borrowed from Nadim Asfar’s photobook encapsulates this mindset: inhabiting the day, establishing a relationship with the world, and experiencing resonance.

Habiter le jour invites visitors to explore the accompanying photo library, browse its volumes, discover new insights – and perhaps experience alternative presents.