Festival Art Souterrain

Éloi Perreault’s photography series Chez nous is an ode to his own community, captured through the changing seasons. The series alternates between images of architecture and rural landscapes, cityscapes, and countryside, highlighting places that hold personal significance for him, such as local shops, residential neighbourhoods, and familiar spots. While some scenes evoke a sense of nostalgia, modern elements like the models of cars and the presence of wind turbines ground the project in contemporary reality. This body of work primarily focuses on driveways and backyards, connecting different forms of solitude. In these photographs, Perreault seems to be a solitary witness to the passage of time. Although the places are depicted as inhabited, the absence of people enhances the impression of isolation and the underlying strangeness found in everyday life. His project, which began in 2020, invites us to slow down and reflect on a habitat that is in transformation.

Perreault continues to develop his artistic practice in Matane, where he was born and continues to live. As a child, he was deeply influenced by his grandparents, with whom he shared a strong bond. His visits to their home, adorned with a decor frozen in time, sparked his interest in material culture. Objects—and their stories—both inspire his imagination and provide comfort. He began taking photographs at 14, focusing on preserving traces of things he feared might disappear. Drawing inspiration from the work of American photographer William Eggleston, he documents the elements that shape his daily life. His reality is also marked by his love for skateboarding, engagement with local youth, and motorbike rides through the landscapes he cherishes. In 2023 and 2024, he exhibited his photography in public spaces in Matane, notably as part of the PHOS event.

The Festival Art Souterrain marks his first exhibition outside of his home region.