In May 1968, France was swept by a wave of rebellion that shook the foundations of society. Bruno Barbey’s powerful photographs capture this pivotal moment—the energy, the urgency, and the uncompromising spirit of a generation demanding change.
As Barbey reflected,
“The emergency was to communicate, to talk to each other, to question everything. It was the rebellion of a whole generation against what society had in principle prepared for it, a rebellion against everything that came from above. Slogans covered the walls: ‘It is forbidden to forbid’, ‘Beneath the cobble stones, the beach’, ‘Enjoy with no hindrances’… It was the rebellion of the youth of one of the richest countries in the world, just before the 1973 crash.”
Through his lens, Barbey documents not only the protests and slogans but the human faces behind the movement—the passion, hope, and uncertainty of young people fighting for a new social order. This exhibition offers a compelling glimpse into a historic moment when art, politics, and youth culture collided in an unforgettable uprising.
