Underground, in tuffeau quarries and creutes, sculptures, drawings, graffitis and paintings are revealed. Created by French, German and American soldiers, Jesuit monks or contemporary artists, these works depict themes such as war, religion, country and women.
Photography highlights this carved and painted underground heritage, which was sometimes damaged or cut out by collectors. It documents details of chalk walls worked with picks and saws, as well as scenographic routes set up in galleries extending over seven kilometers.
This section brings together my photographs of these works, across four places:
Traces of First World War Soldiers
Engravings, drawings and sculptures made near entrances by French, German and American soldiers depict religion, war and women.
The Jezuïetenberg Quarry
Located near Maastricht, this tuffeau quarry features a decor carved and painted by Jesuit monks starting in the 19th century.
The Carrara Space
Classified as a heritage protection zone, this underground cultural space is a gallery dedicated to stone sculpture and stonework.
The Ackerman Caves in Saumur
Dug into local tuffeau over seven kilometers, this network of galleries hosts a scenographic tour featuring contemporary artworks.