The award-winning photographer will receive a creative grant of €4,000 and accommodation at the Villa Salis in Sète from May 5 to July 5, 2025, to carry out her project “Ce que les nacres tissent” (“What mother-of-pearl weaves”). In this project, Juliette-Andréa Elie focuses on the Grande Nacre, an emblematic shellfish of the Mediterranean basin, now found almost exclusively in the Etang de Thau and the Gulf of Lion. This creative proposal was unanimously praised by the jury for its relevance and high standards, both in its approach to the subject and in the form proposed.

A presentation of the work in progress will be organized during the FLOW festival, a visual arts program focusing on social issues and the marine world, whose 1st edition, initiated by The Eyes, will take place in Occitanie at 4 heritage sites from September 25 to November 30, 2025.

The grant was created as a tribute to humanist photographer and sailor Ronan Guillou.

The third edition of the Ronan Guillou Grant is supported by the city of Sète and M28 – Terres de culture.

ONGOING Project: Ce que les nacres tissent

In this project, Juliette-Andréa Elie focuses on the Grande Nacre, an emblematic shellfish of the Mediterranean basin, now found almost exclusively in the Etang de Thau and the Gulf of Lion. This filter feeder, essential to marine biodiversity, is threatened by human activity and a devastating parasite. Through a series of field photographs, she aims to explore the active relationship between local scientists and this species.

The project also draws on a symbolic aspect: the precious sea silk, Le byssus, made from the filaments of mother-of-pearl, which is the subject of an ancestral craft. The photographer imagines a weft of golden threads, embroidery or weaving, partially covering her images. These writings, both poetic and documentary, open up the collective imagination in relation to our ability to adapt to environmental challenges.

The project also questions future challenges, such as the search for new refuges and the creation of new maritime coexistences.

photo : © Juliette-Andrea Elie, Derrière l’horizon, tout au revers de soi, 2023-2024

JURY 

Annie Favier Baron, President, CPIE Bassin de Thau
Emmanuelle Hascoët, Curator, Founder of FOVEARTS
Sophie Léron, President of M28 – Terres de culture
Anne-Françoise Voisin, Maritime Heritage Officer, Direction de la Mer, Occitanie Region
Véronique Prugnaud et Vincent Marcilhacy, Founders The Eyes / Eyes Wide Open

FINALISTS 

David Bart Lalanne, France 
Ismaël Bazri, France
Anaïs Boileau, France
De Vido Susanna, Italie
Maria Di Stefano, Italie 
Amira Lamti, Tunisie 
Laura Martin Person, France
Richard Pak, France
Romain Emile, France
Lynn SK, France / Algérie