Exhibition ‘Where the devil dances’ photographs by Peruvian Lukas Isaac | Gironde

This exhibition, presented for the first time in France, is a documentary project that the famous Latin American rock photographer (photographer of the Rolling Stones during their last tour in South America) devoted to the committed work of Peruvian firefighters.

“Donde el diablo baila” (literally “where the devil dances”) is a documentary photography exhibition created by Peruvian photographer Lukas Isaac in December 2014, which takes its name from the Peruvian firefighters jargon to name a fire and which is currently presented in Bordeaux from May 23 to June 2. This project documented the activity of a fire company in the city of Lima for more than four years. In its objective, it highlights the work and the importance of Peruvian firefighters, but also the difficulties with which these women and men are confronted: lack of means, recognition and valuation of their actions.

Through images Lukas Isaac shows that the work of firefighters is above all a commitment that goes beyond duty.

“The devil”, this expression is also used by French firefighters to qualify the fire. Firefighters form a community even beyond borders. Thus, at the invitation of “KLAC”, the Departmental Union of Firefighters of the Gironde has associated itself with this exhibition by promoting the work of Damien Rembert, professional firefighter and photographer. He takes a professional and artistic look at what makes up his daily life.

From big fire to social distress, he captures furtive moments during the intervention testifying to the surpassing of oneself of the rescuer to the relief of the victim.
This exhibition, organized by the Kaléidoscope Laboratoire Culturel association, with the participation of the Union Départementale des Sapeurs-Pompiers de la Gironde, is part of the week of Latin America and the Caribbean 2022.

Bordeaux has been linked by a twinning with Lima since 1956. Cultural and university events have punctuated this long friendship. The links between the two cities are experiencing a new dynamic with solidarity projects (access to drinking water in disadvantaged neighborhoods), heritage preservation (rehabilitation of the UNESCO-listed historic center), cultural sharing (cross residences of artists street art) and educational (school exchanges).

These men and women who risk their lives to help those in need. An even more admirable work because it is completely voluntary: in Peru there are no professional firefighters and all firefighters selflessly risk their lives in a city, Lima, of 11 million inhabitants and where far too many declare themselves fires every year. This exhibition will be completed by a series of shots by Bordeaux photographer Damien Rembert with photos taken in Gironde.

Where the devil dances, organized in partnership with the Departmental Union of Gironde firefighters and with the support of Bordeaux City Hall and Crédit Mutuel du Sud-Ouest, is a human and moving portrait of a profession that is often very undervalued, in Peru, France or anywhere else. The exhibition will also have a philanthropic purpose because the photographs presented will be sold and the money collected will be donated to the firefighters of the city of Lima.

Support for Peruvian firefighters

In Peru, the first fire brigades of Lima were born after a call for service in times of war, in particular during the months leading up to the “Combat du 2 May” of 1866, a key date that sealed the independence of South America. Since then, and until today, volunteer firefighters have answered the call in the most tragic moments of Peruvian history:

• large fires like that of Mesa Redonda (2001) where more than 277 people perished, according to official figures
• during the armed conflict that the country experienced between 1980 and 1992, where firefighters helped the victims of terrorist attacks, rescued the wounded after the explosion of bombs which often hit the city
• during natural disasters and medical emergencies where without distinction of social class the victims were taken care of
• this approach is very rare and commendable in a country where the health system is private.

In Peru firefighters are only volunteers. They receive no salary to risk their lives, they do not benefit from any insurance for themselves or their families despite the risks they incur in the exercise of their activity. Due to a lack of resources, they are the ones who buy their equipment and provide maintenance. Foreign donations, the national budget and the support of some private institutions are not enough to meet the identified needs. This exhibition will be an opportunity to raise funds for the firefighters of Lima, through the sale of photographs by Lukas Isaac. The profits obtained by the sale of the photos of the exhibition will be donated to the volunteer firefighters of the city of Lima.

An encounter

Lukas Isaac

Lukas Isaac is a Peruvian photographer / documentary filmmaker recognized throughout Latin America for his work around the world of music. He was notably the photographer of the Rolling Stones during their last tour in South America (2016). His photos are published in the book “Olé Olé Olé: A Trip Across Latin America” ​​by the Rolling Stones released in 2017. He has participated in several exhibitions such as Desborde Subterráneo at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Lima (2017) and “Pasajes Sonoros” at the National Library of Peru. He is also the director of the magazine “Visor Rock”.

In 2014, he started his photo-documentary entitled “Donde baila el diablo”.
Lien : https://lukasisaac.com/donde-el-diablo-baila

He had to wait a year for permission from the Peruvian Fire Command (the Comandancia del Cuerpo de Bomberos Voluntarios de Peru) to be able to accompany the firefighters in the district of Breña, very close to the historic center of Lima. On the last night of 2014, he officially started his project by following their daily life in a close and personal way.

At first, he intended to document the actions of firefighters in just a few months. But over the weeks he found himself in the middle of a brotherhood and he was able to experience the human part of the firefighter’s work, the feeling of brotherhood, coexistence, sharing joys and sorrows like a second family. He also became aware of the needs and the lack of material with which they are confronted every day, the disinterest of the government despite the many promises made, the injustice with which they are often treated by the citizens, and the duel involved in the loss “brothers of fire” – terms used among themselves to refer to each other.

For more than four years Lukas Isaac has dedicated a significant part of his time to supporting them in their work and in their daily lives:

“With the firefighters I found a feeling of brotherhood, and I was able to understand the forces that motivate them and also those that discourage them: the feeling of giving without expecting anything in return, the complete anonymity of the heroes when they to assist and preserve the lives of others, the injustice with which they are often treated, the lack of empathy of the population for the effort necessary to reach the place of the disaster, the promises not kept by the authorities and therefore the disappointment . And finally the sadness of leaving their loved ones for their dedication to service, the shortages and deficiencies to face every day, even giving their lives if necessary, and always working in silence for a better country. »

Damien Rembert

Damien Rembert is a professional firefighter with the Gironde fire brigade. Assigned to the fire and rescue center in Bruges, he participates daily in rescue missions for the benefit of the Gironde population. Damien began photography in Bordeaux nightclubs, he learned photography, on his own, in fairly dark, smoky atmospheres, where he constantly had to adapt to the ambient light, he liked this complex and technical universe for shooting.

In 2015 he became an operational photographer within the communication department of the Gironde Departmental Fire and Rescue Service, the complex universe of interventions reminds him of the universe of his beginnings with the challenge of immortalizing the “actions” of his fellow firefighters in sometimes difficult conditions such as fires, bad weather and interventions in perilous environments. Thus he captures through images moments of life, of distress, of relief. It takes us into a daily life made up of sometimes extraordinary moments experienced by ordinary people.

Photo credit Lukas Isaac

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