Depardon exhibition at the Shoah Memorial fascinates Paris in 2025

Few people know it yet, but since the summer of 2025, the Mémorial de la Shoah has been presenting a brand-new exhibition devoted to Raymond Depardon’s 1979 photographs of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Sources privilégiées confirm that this is the first complete presentation of this series, in an immersive and sober scenography. This event, linked to the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, marks a milestone in collective memory in Paris.

A rare and unprecedented visual testimony

These black-and-white photographs, taken by Raymond Depardon in the snow in 1979, have never before been shown in their entirety. Sent for two weeks to Auschwitz-Birkenau by Paris Match, he chose the angle of sobriety: absence, silence, material traces. Unlike conventional exhibitions, the Shoah Memorial now presents these images in an installation designed by Studio Adrien Gardère.

The sober, unspectacular layout projects the photographs onto seven walls. This immersion places visitors at the heart of a contemplative experience. According to the organizers, the exhibition is already attracting a large audience, reinforcing the educational importance of this emblematic Parisian landmark.

The immersive experience and its impact

During our visit, the effect of this scenography was striking. The choice of multiple viewpoints creates a sensation of visual envelopment, without artifice or exaggeration. The silence that accompanies the projections further accentuates the power of the images. Many visitors report an experience marked by contemplation.

The Memorial ‘s role is central: it’s not just a question of presenting photos, but of inviting visitors to take a personal journey through the duty of remembrance. The choice of a design studio reflects a desire to modernize the transmission of information, without betraying the documentary spirit of the photographer. This approach is in line with new trends in immersive museum tours.

A revisited historical context

When Depardon visited Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1979, it had just been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. His images capture the state of the site at the time, with its snow, ruins and human remains. Presented today in Paris, they resonate with new intensity, both as a work of art and as a historical archive.

These photographs, considered by specialists to be a milestone in documentary photography, confront us with the absence and visible scars of the place. Their complete exhibition in 2025, in connection with the 80th anniversary of the liberation, underlines the memorial and universal dimension of this work. The editorial project, co-published with Calmann-Lévy, further strengthens the impact of this cultural revelation.

“These photographs document what remains after the horror, what continues to cry out despite the silence. – Raymond Depardon, photographer

The Memorial emphasizes the importance of educational mediation, in particular through its guided tours scheduled for September and October 2025. These activities provide an in-depth look at the art of photography, linking it to its historical context.

Proposals and committed actors

By hosting this groundbreaking project, the Shoah Memorial is affirming its role as a benchmark for the transmission of knowledge. Its team has chosen to work with recognized partners such as Studio Adrien Gardère, whose scenography has been unanimously praised by critics. The choices of sobriety and respect are directly inspired by the values of this venue.

Visitors benefit from additional explanations, archive panels and testimonials integrated into the tour. This alliance between images, memory and cultural mediation explains the intensity reported by many spectators. Editorial support with a dedicated book also demonstrates the desire to extend the experience beyond the museum walls.

“The exhibition offers visitors a visual immersion, projecting images onto seven walls for deep contemplation.” – Studio Adrien Gardère, scenographer

A major cultural event in Paris

This exhibition is part of a list of key memorial events taking place in 2025. In a context where intergenerational transmission is essential, this artistic and documentary experience finds a particular resonance. Unlike other discourses, here the approach favors silence and the strength of traces.

Free access is a major factor in the event’s inclusiveness, enabling it to reach out to both the general public and researchers. The timing, coinciding with the anniversary of the Liberation, amplifies the symbolic significance of this event.

The integration of this exhibition into Paris’s cultural program illustrates the growing popularity of immersive memorial events. Parisians and international visitors alike will find this a unique experience, at the heart of an enriching cultural itinerary.

Finally, a number of institutional players, such as Paris Match and Calmann-Lévy, emphasize the importance of media and editorial relays, ensuring the sustainability of this artistic and educational project. It could even be used as the basis for future tours or extensions in 2026.

Practical information

Address: Shoah Memorial, 17 rue Geoffroy-l’Asnier, 75004 Paris. Metro: Saint-Paul (line 1) or Pont Marie (line 7). Dates: exhibition from June 26 to November 9, 2025. Times: daily except Saturday, 10am-6pm (until 10pm on Thursday). Admission: free. Guided tours: September 25 and October 23, 2025, book online via the official website.