I am working on a photographic and documentary project exploring the links between cuisine and immigration in Paris and the Île-de-France region.
I aim to tell people’s life stories, focusing on those for whom cooking represents much more than just a job: it is an anchor, a means of survival, and sometimes a gateway to a form of integration.
I am exploring the potential of cooking to act as a catalyst for integration, whether social, cultural or administrative. To what extent does this profession enable people to find their place, forge connections, or rebuild their identity in a new country?
The project took shape through several immersive experiences: within a training school, in a community canteen, and alongside chefs of various nationalities, including a chef from the haute cuisine sector. These encounters inform an approach that is both documentary and journalistic.
The use of black and white and natural light reflects a desire to refocus attention on the people, their gestures and expressions, whilst placing the visual appeal of the dishes and colours in the background. The focus is thus directed towards the human stories they convey.
Through these images, I offer an embodied interpretation of immigration, showing how cuisine can become a space for integration, connection and the reconstruction of identity.
