Jade Joannès: Documenting the Unseen Realities of the Parisian Banlieues

Every year, BJP publishes its Ones to Watch issue – our selection of the artists who epitomize the talent and creativity in international photography today, as nominated by a global network of curators, editors, and artists. As we finalize this year’s list, to be published in Issue 7926 this June, we’re revisiting the 2025 Ones to Watch. Today, Jade Joannès, as nominated by Jean-Christophe Godet.

Paris, a city steeped in grand narratives and iconic imagery, often overshadows its sprawling banlieues – the suburban municipalities that encircle the capital. These areas, collectively known as the "suburbs," are an integral part of the Parisian metropolitan landscape, yet they remain largely on the periphery of the city’s celebrated identity, both geographically and symbolically. While a mere train ride away from the bustling 20 arrondissements within the Boulevard Périphérique, these outer districts, encompassing approximately eight times the landmass of central Paris, possess their own distinct realities, often less explored and frequently misunderstood.

Photographer Jade Joannès, through her compelling ongoing series Royaumes d’incertitudes (Kingdoms of Uncertainties), endeavors to dismantle the prevalent "caricature" of these banlieues. Her work challenges the often fraught reputations associated with these areas, aiming to present a nuanced and dignified portrayal of their inhabitants and environments. The series specifically focuses on two small cities north of Paris: Persan and Beaumont. Nestled amidst agricultural fields and bisected by the Oise River, these communities bear the legacy of an industrial past, a history of traditional rivalry, and a persistent working-class identity.

Joannès herself has a deep personal connection to these locales, having spent the first two decades of her life living in close proximity to Persan and Beaumont. This intimate understanding fuels her artistic mission to "valorize the beauty of these places and the rebellion within them," as she articulates. This sentiment is echoed by Jean-Christophe Godet, artistic director of Glaz Festival and Guernsey Photography Festival, who nominated Joannès for the Ones to Watch feature. Godet praises her ability to "highlight the social struggles and the disillusionment faced by younger generations in cities that are in a constant state of flux and in search of their own identity," all achieved with "precision, sobriety, and a multi-layered narrative."

The Spark of Protest and the Quest for Justice

The impetus for Royaumes d’incertitudes was significantly amplified by a pivotal event that shook Persan and its surrounding communities in July 2016: the death of Adama Traoré, a 24-year-old Black man, while in police custody at a police station in Persan. This tragic incident ignited widespread protests across France, and within the banlieues, a heightened police presence became palpable. In the aftermath, Assa Traoré, Adama’s sister, emerged as a prominent activist, tirelessly campaigning against police brutality and establishing the Truth and Justice for Adama Committee. Her efforts have been instrumental in organizing marches and advocating for political change to address the disproportionate violence experienced by marginalized communities.

The legal proceedings following Adama Traoré’s death have been protracted and contentious. In May 2020, legal authorities cleared the three officers involved of wrongdoing, a decision that further deepened the divide and amplified feelings of injustice within affected communities. Joannès’s black-and-white series directly addresses this watershed moment. A tightly framed portrait of Assa Traoré is featured, and the visual narrative is punctuated by references to Adama, including protest signs and murals that serve as poignant reminders of his life and the ongoing struggle for accountability.

The impact of the Adama Traoré case and its subsequent legal outcomes cannot be overstated. It brought to the forefront long-standing grievances regarding racial profiling, police misconduct, and systemic inequalities within the French justice system. The protests that followed were not isolated incidents but rather a crystallization of decades of pent-up frustration and a demand for tangible reform. The ongoing legal battles and the persistent advocacy by groups like the Truth and Justice for Adama Committee underscore the deep societal fissures that Joannès’s work seeks to explore.

A Tapestry of Disquiet and Identity

Beyond the specific context of the Adama Traoré case, Royaumes d’incertitudes also reflects a broader sense of national disquiet and the complex search for identity within these peripheral urban spaces. Joannès’s visual language incorporates a rich array of objects and symbols that speak to the multifaceted realities of life in Persan and Beaumont. These include a teddy bear adorned with a "France en colère" (France is angry) shirt, a stark indicator of prevailing social tensions. Graffiti articulating "bientôt fin du monde" (soon the end of the world) hints at a pervasive sense of uncertainty and a search for meaning in a rapidly changing world.

The series also integrates elements such as voter registration cards and scratchcards, alluding to the intersection of politics and economics, and the often precarious circumstances faced by residents. Motorcycle helmets represent the modes of transportation that connect and sometimes isolate these communities. Murky rows of trees, while seemingly natural, can also evoke a sense of being hemmed in or removed from broader societal landscapes.

Joannès’s approach to composition is particularly insightful. She frequently juxtaposes detailed images of objects with expansive landscapes, a deliberate choice to illustrate her belief that "the non-figurative is still a sort of portrait – it can have the same influence in terms of what it can evoke. Objects wouldn’t exist without human impact." This technique allows her to imbue the inanimate with the weight of human experience, transforming everyday items into potent visual metaphors for the lives they represent. The series, therefore, becomes a visual ethnography, meticulously documenting the tangible and intangible aspects of these communities.

A Photographic Journey: From Family Albums to Global Encounters

Jade Joannès’s photographic journey began at the age of 14, when she commandeered her father’s digital camera, initially intended for family snapshots. This early exploration laid the foundation for her decade-long project, Une histoire inachevée (An Unfinished Story). This deeply personal series delved into the lives of her family, friends, and immediate surroundings, capturing evocative details of limbs, leaves, long hair, shoes, syringes, and shadows. This project culminated just before her graduation from the prestigious École nationale supérieure d’arts de Paris-Cergy in 2019, marking a significant milestone in her development as an artist.

Following her formative experiences, Joannès sought to broaden her perspective through an international residency. During a four-month stay in Japan in 2018, she embarked on La saison des murmures (The Whispering Season). Living in a traditional home near Mount Higashi and its surrounding forests, she immersed herself in the natural landscape and its profound cultural significance within Japanese society. This experience of "dépaysment" – the feeling of being uprooted from one’s country – proved transformative, allowing her to engage with a new environment and the resilience of its inhabitants in the face of natural challenges like earthquakes and typhoons.

Her return to France marked a period of introspection and a renewed focus on familial and familiar bonds. Between 2019 and 2023, she created Une étrange attraction (A Strange Attraction), a series that explored the depths of imagination through everyday objects and the often-overlooked beauty of familiar surroundings. This project further solidified her artistic signature, characterized by what she describes as a "documentary style with an artistic approach." This duality allows her to seamlessly blend subjective perspectives with reportage, interweaving diaristic insights with sociological observations.

Joannès primarily engages with long-term projects, a methodology that allows her to delve deeply into her chosen subjects. She admits that at times, a subject can feel "inexhaustible." However, she finds clarity and resolution in her creative process: "I like to create sequences in my work, so when I have all the human elements and landscape moments that say what I want to say, I realize I’m done." This deliberate pacing and meticulous sequencing ensure that each project builds a cohesive and resonant narrative.

Broader Implications and the Future of Representation

Jade Joannès’s work on the Parisian banlieues is more than just a visual documentation; it is a critical intervention into how these communities are perceived and represented. The persistent narrative surrounding these areas often focuses on issues of crime, poverty, and social exclusion, overshadowing the vibrant cultures, strong community ties, and individual aspirations that exist within them. By focusing on the "beauty" and "rebellion" that she observes, Joannès offers an alternative perspective that challenges stereotypes and fosters empathy.

The series Royaumes d’incertitudes, with its nuanced portrayal of social struggles, disillusionment, and the search for identity, resonates with contemporary discussions about urban inequality and the lived experiences of marginalized populations across Europe and beyond. The photography serves as a powerful tool for social commentary, prompting viewers to confront uncomfortable truths and to reconsider their own preconceived notions.

The legacy of events like the Adama Traoré case continues to shape the discourse on policing and justice in France. Joannès’s artistic engagement with these issues contributes to a broader cultural dialogue, ensuring that these narratives are not confined to news cycles but are instead preserved and explored through artistic expression. Her work highlights the critical role of photography in fostering understanding, challenging societal biases, and giving voice to those who are often unheard.

As Joannès continues to develop her artistic practice, her commitment to long-term, deeply researched projects suggests a trajectory of continued exploration into the complex human condition. Her ability to weave together personal narrative, social observation, and artistic vision positions her as a significant voice in contemporary photography, one whose work promises to shed further light on the often-unseen realities that shape our world. Her contribution to the BJP’s Ones to Watch issue underscores her emerging prominence and her potential to influence how we understand and engage with photography’s capacity for social impact.

Jade Joannès’s portfolio can be explored further at jadejoannes.com.