Finalist 2015
Younès Klouche
Born in Lausanne, Younès Klouche graduated in Photography from the Ecole cantonale d'art de Lausanne (ECAL). In his work, he seeks to renew the documentary genre through a conceptual and reflexive approach. His projects take the form of books and installations in collective exhibitions at the Musée de l’Elysée in Lausanne, the Photoforum in Vienna or in a projection at the Tate Modern in London.
Today, he is a committed photographer for the marketing division of the ECAL, working both on the realisation of projects designed to promote the institution, as well as his own work. He recently published a monograph (beginning of 2016).
Today, he is a committed photographer for the marketing division of the ECAL, working both on the realisation of projects designed to promote the institution, as well as his own work. He recently published a monograph (beginning of 2016).
TRUST Magnum, 2015
Central Switzerland is the historic federal cradle. Also named “primordial Switzerland”, it does not border any foreign countries. The cantons of this region are the most conservative regions in Switzerland and some are tax havens. Businesses, whose headquarters are found there, give Switzerland a major role in the global trade of primary materials.
Glencore, colossal in the trade market, brokering and metal extraction, has its headquarters in Zug. The American justice for corruption and tax evasion sued its founder, Marc Rich. He figured in the FBI's “most wanted” list. Moving to Switzerland has enabled him to avoid being imprisoned. The building of Glencore, situated outside the center of Zug, lurks behind large beeches. Board members and employees come and go through the underground parking. At midday, they take a bus with tinted windows that brings them to the city center for lunch. Therefore, I could only photograph them by entering the property of the company, avoiding the guards and without staying too long under the surveillance cameras. Secrecy increases the margins of maneuvre of these multinationals. The less we speak about them, the more they shall profit.
Tax evasion is not a photographic subject; it cannot be represented in a visible spectrum. However, it is a fact. Photography allows us to show what we cannot see or what cannot be shown. The close framing, as well as the opaque and mirroring surfaces presented in the series, allow us to understand that we do not have all the pieces of information, that not all is being said. Whether it is the windscreen of a car or the windows of a building, we cannot see what is behind them, nor can we say what happens behind them, therefore we understand that something does, even if we do not know what.
As soon as an employer of one of these businesses is fired, all his contacts and emails vanish from his computer. He no longer has access to his desk drawers and an agent escorts him immediately outside the building. The economic prosperity of the company implies the silence of all those who may have something to say.
In the outskirts of Brunnen, a small village of the Schwyz canton, there is an industrial building surrounded by protection grating and wire fences. On one of its sides, we can read RUAG Together ahead. This company is an international business that works in the defence field. Quickly after photographing the logo, a group of soldiers from Ticino, deployed in the region, started asking questions. They brought me to a barn in order to question me on the reason of my presence and interest in the building. They threatened to confiscate my camera and called the federal police. Two agents arrived and searched me, putting the content of my bag on a table. I manage to avoid the confiscation of my camera and rolls of film. Even in Switzerland, this kind of misadventure repeats itself regularly since I began doing this type of photography. However, I do not need a privileged access for my work, what I photograph could be photographed by anyone else. Yet, this approach does not come without problems and involves negotiating with the police and security agents.
Glencore, colossal in the trade market, brokering and metal extraction, has its headquarters in Zug. The American justice for corruption and tax evasion sued its founder, Marc Rich. He figured in the FBI's “most wanted” list. Moving to Switzerland has enabled him to avoid being imprisoned. The building of Glencore, situated outside the center of Zug, lurks behind large beeches. Board members and employees come and go through the underground parking. At midday, they take a bus with tinted windows that brings them to the city center for lunch. Therefore, I could only photograph them by entering the property of the company, avoiding the guards and without staying too long under the surveillance cameras. Secrecy increases the margins of maneuvre of these multinationals. The less we speak about them, the more they shall profit.
Tax evasion is not a photographic subject; it cannot be represented in a visible spectrum. However, it is a fact. Photography allows us to show what we cannot see or what cannot be shown. The close framing, as well as the opaque and mirroring surfaces presented in the series, allow us to understand that we do not have all the pieces of information, that not all is being said. Whether it is the windscreen of a car or the windows of a building, we cannot see what is behind them, nor can we say what happens behind them, therefore we understand that something does, even if we do not know what.
As soon as an employer of one of these businesses is fired, all his contacts and emails vanish from his computer. He no longer has access to his desk drawers and an agent escorts him immediately outside the building. The economic prosperity of the company implies the silence of all those who may have something to say.
In the outskirts of Brunnen, a small village of the Schwyz canton, there is an industrial building surrounded by protection grating and wire fences. On one of its sides, we can read RUAG Together ahead. This company is an international business that works in the defence field. Quickly after photographing the logo, a group of soldiers from Ticino, deployed in the region, started asking questions. They brought me to a barn in order to question me on the reason of my presence and interest in the building. They threatened to confiscate my camera and called the federal police. Two agents arrived and searched me, putting the content of my bag on a table. I manage to avoid the confiscation of my camera and rolls of film. Even in Switzerland, this kind of misadventure repeats itself regularly since I began doing this type of photography. However, I do not need a privileged access for my work, what I photograph could be photographed by anyone else. Yet, this approach does not come without problems and involves negotiating with the police and security agents.
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© Younès Klouche
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