12 French farmers on display in the metro before taking over the International Agricultural Show

12 French farmers on display in the metro before taking over the International Agricultural Show

130 posters dedicated to 12 farmers' portraits, spread out in 45 Paris metro stations. A 110 m² backlit frieze, exhibited at the Salon de l'agriculture, telling 24 hours of their lives. This is the result of a year of photo reports by Géraldine Aresteanu at the request of InVivo. Farmers by day and night documents the daily lives of farmers and pays tribute to their passion for their work, which does not stop at nightfall. 

An inseparable link between the farmer and the citizen-consumer

Photographer Géraldine Aresteanu travelled around France for a year, meeting these farmers. This immersion in their daily lives has given rise to a series of reports, displayed today and until 25 February in the Paris metro with a message: "Feeding you is my job" and an invitation to go to the Salon de l'agriculture to discover all the portraits.

The 12 portraits will be displayed at the SIA, on a 110m² backlit frieze in the Renan passage, which connects Pavilions 1 and 2, the busiest part of the show. Visitors will discover 24 hours in the life of Paul-Henri and Pauline Leluc, potato and vodka producers, Alice Avisse, polyculturist and breeder, Yves-Marie Leguen, oyster farmer and Eric Veyret, market gardener. "In a changing sector, France is at the forefront of sustainable agricultural practices. Today's farmer is a balancing act, wearing many hats. Farmers by day and by night puts people at the heart of the matter and reminds us of their contribution to the construction of the agricultural model of the future", says Thierry Blandinières, CEO of InVivo.

The "24 hours" of Géraldine Aresteanu

In 2014, Géraldine Aresteanu began the "24h" project, during which she photographs the daily life of a person. Driven by her curiosity for others and her human commitment, she alternates documentary photography, portraits, personal projects and commissions from companies and institutions. For Géraldine, "This format appeared to be ideal to enter into daily life, to experience moments of different intensity and to draw attention to a little-known profession.

The "visual" portraits of the farmers are always accompanied by a "written" portrait on their career path and their motivations for doing this job. Most of them wanted to take part in these reports to arouse the interest of consumers, who are sometimes unfamiliar with the diversity of French agriculture. For example, Alice Avisse, a mixed farmer and stockbreeder in the Oise region, is a supporter of sustainable agriculture "which must feed the planet while respecting the environment". Yann Corbeau founded his organic pig farm in Brittany; he comes from a family of conventional farmers for whom he "has the greatest respect". Other farmers recalled the passion they have for their work: "Even at night, I should be in my sheepfold, but unfortunately I have to sleep", sighed Bruno Guénin, a farmer in Alsace.