In July 2024, the Olympic Games will open in Paris. However, not all the competitions will take place in the Metropole. The surfers will ride instead the waves of French Polynesia, on the other side of the world, off the coral reef of Teahupo’o.

LA MANA OLYMPIQUE

In July 2023, Lorenzo Borghi flew to Papeete, the capital of Tahiti, embedded as photographer within the French non-governmental organization Île du Monde (www.iledumonde.org).  Île du Monde is accredited by UNESCO to document the intangible cultural heritage in France and overseas. For three weeks, Lorenzo photographed and captured the traditional sports of Tu’aro Mā’ohi and the dances of the Heiva of French Polynesia. Mana, the sacred force that inhabits and connects all living beings, flowed freely among participants and spectators alike. Lorenzo’s trip to French Polynesia produced over thirteen thousand images.

From a meticulous selection of bodies, waves, materials, movements, muscles, smiles and tropical sounds the photographic exhibition La Mana Olympique (www.photobastei.ch/site/activity-details?id=404) was born. Scan the QR for more information on the topic, location and opening times.

AT SUPPORT OF FRENCH POLYNESIA

La Mana Olympique supports Te Ora Naho, the federation of environmental protection associations, which brings together 57 associations working to protect Fenua (www.teoranaho-fape.org). Proceeds from the exhibition will help this network to protect and restore local ecosystems, and to implement sustainable development models that respect people, the environment and culture. As well, La Mana Olympique supports Hauruuru, the Association for the protection, management and development of Papenoo (Tahiti).

THE AUTHOR

Lorenzo Borghi is an Italian-Swiss photographer living in Zurich. In 2018, he joined the French non-governmental organization Île du Monde. In 2019, he directed and edited with Île du Monde the photographic report on traditional sports and culture in Guadeloupe, published in 2019-2020 in the report “Patrimoine Culturel Immatériel de Guadeloupe“. Lorenzo exhibited his previous work at Photobastei Zurich in 2014 (The Green point of view), 2017 (Berg un Tal) and 2019 (Zürcher/IN). His work is published online at artborghi.com