Out of sight is a photographic artwork on homeless people, made in 2020 in the three main cities in France : Paris, Marseille and Lyon.

There are more and more homeless people in the cities and however, these women, men and children remain invisible while they're surviving just before our eyes. As they were just part of the landscape. Isolating them in the street, the COVID crisis increased the social divide existing with the rest of the population confined at home. This is where I decided to go to meet them.

It is about fixing the eyes where it no longer settles, showing reality as we could see it if we would take the time to watch it.

It is about telling their stories through their portraits, showing their own singularities, and the place they are reduced to live "in".

Taking a look from human to human is essential, before the street erases everything, that cities and their hostile architecture push them away to survive further. Because consideration is one of the first steps to recreate social link, to regain self-confidence when life on the street can dehumanize and remove all dignity from homeless people.

A doormat is a symbol of hospitality. One put it at the front door of his home to welcome anyone who comes in. It is also the thing we use to wipe our shoes, not to soil anything.

Here, the "Welcome" doormat given to each person I met symbolizes her/his personal and intimate space on the public area. Before each photo, they place it where they consider to find their own entrance.

It materializes on each photo this makeshift shelter. It leads our eyes where there is no front door to get you in but no walls to keep you out.

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Geoffrey Serguier is a self-taught photographer. Particularly receptive to this cause, he chooses to use writing and photography to show homeless people reality from another point of view and try to change the mindset about it.

Out of sight

The publications