Antoine d' Agata

Antoine D’Agata (France, 1961)

took photography courses at New York’s

International Center of Photography during

a prolonged stay in the United States.

He subsequently worked for Agence VU’,

later transferring to Magnum Photos. He

has published several books, including

Mala Noche (1998), Insomnia (2003) and

Agonie (2009). He has exhibited all over the

world and in 2001 was awarded the annual

prix Niépce photography prize.

In his work D’Agata explores life on the

fringes of society. His raw photos – in which

whores, junkies and other outcasts are the

principal players – are as disturbing and

brooding as they are lyrical and beautiful.

In his photo series Palestine D’Agata takes

a more documentary-oriented path and

photographs an ‘ordinary’ afternoon in

Jerusalem’s Old City. Ordinary is, of course,

a relative notion; he is led on his way by the

constant rumble of explosions. Israeli soldiers,

Palestinian youths and the international

media are the cast members in this

pocket-sized but very violent drama. Two

streets away everyday life goes on as usual.

Although D’Agata simply does his job and

tries to stay detached, he feels uncomfortable.

He knows he is out of place in this

threatening situation; he is a spectator or

even a voyeur. He considers the role of the

press photographer and wonders about

the degree in which documentary photographers

‘package’ their work and whether

this is actually compatible with the responsibility

they have towards the reality of their

subjects.