Exposition : Allégorie d’une mise en boîte – Regard sur l’archéologie

Through the photographs of Fabien Legay, this exhibition invites the public to discover an original and sensitive look at archaeological collections and the behind-the-scenes aspects of their conservation, and offers a poetic journey to the heart of archaeology, where objects interact with their container.

For over twenty years, Fabien Legay has explored the Ardennes through deeply human and documentary photography. Today, his work is evolving towards a freer, more poetic, humorous, and experimental aesthetic.

Invited as an artist-in-residence at the Ardennes Archaeological Research Center (CARA) in 2024, the photographer focused his attention on objects unearthed during archaeological digs, but also on their containers: boxes, cases, drawers, and sometimes unexpected packaging that ensure their preservation. Through a series of sensitive, unconventional, and occasionally humorous images, he pays tribute to the work of amateur archaeologists while questioning contemporary conservation practices. The exhibition thus becomes a reflection on time, memory, and the traces left by humankind—a true "archaeology of the gaze."