For more than four decades, Josef Koudelka, a wandering independent photographer, has been creating insightful captivating artworks focused on humans and their surroundings. The exhibition showcases the recurrent themes in his art, namely life in exile, nomadic lifestyles, political and social conflicts, the impact of human activity on the environment, etc. The exhibition features signature works of the artist from the 1960’s, 1970’s, 1980’s and the 1990’s revealing the deeply humane character of his art.

After years of extensive wanderings around Europe, Josef Koudelka was granted French citizenship in 1987, and, as a token of his gratitude to France, he donated the 75 photographs included in the Exiles series to the Pompidou Centre – National Museum of Modern Art / Industrial Design Centre. It is this series of signature artworks that is presented by the exhibition.

Having risked his life in taking snapshots of the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, a stateless artist, having travelled across Europe between 1970 and 1987, he made convincing photographs documenting Europe’s genesis and fears. Josef Koudelka is among the most prominent artists having made a case for the European project as a solid foundation for peace and prosperity.

Josef Koudelka has no established permanent residency, as he keeps pursuing his activities in Western Europe following routes based on the time and location of annual Romany gatherings, and folk festivals, and the celebration of religious holidays. The artist himself is a rover, who wanders around, having lost touch with his homeland.

His art is a blend of art photography and photojournalism, a poetic illustration of a life of wanderings from Ireland to Italy, from Spain to Poland. His photographs of abandoned scattered objects, the images of stray animals and lonely people pose the question of boundaries and dentity. He sheds new light upon the challenges and fears faced by contemporary European society.

The Josef Koudelka: Exiles exhibition is brought to you by the French Institute in Bulgaria, the Sofia Municipal Authority and the Sofia City Art Gallery in partnership with the Pompidou Centre, Magnum Photos, Expressbank AD, the Higher Francophone School of Administration and Management (Ecole Supérieure de la Francophonie pour Administration et le Management), and the International Organization of the Francophonie.