Real kings of Central Asia 2, 2021

Maïlys Derville  

Coming from a background in journalism, Maïlys Derville approaches photography through a field-based documentary practice, initiated alongside photographer Corinne Vachon. She has developed an approach based on immersion, long-term commitment, and proximity to the communities she encounters.

Throughout her travels in Africa, Central Asia, and Europe, she has built several striking series. "Mystic Valley" (2019), shot in the Wakhan Valley in Afghanistan, documents the daily life of the Wakhi people, far from the dominant representations of the country. "Only God Forgets" (2020) explores the Romanian Maramureș, a rural territory caught between Soviet heritage and contemporary mutations.

More recently, she traveled to Andalusia to photograph the Pentecost pilgrimages in El Rocío, capturing collective dynamics and bodies in the midst of religious fervor and festive celebration. At the crossroads of documentary and art, her work prioritizes portraiture, natural light, and sober compositions. Rooted in a humanist tradition, her photography seeks to capture the essence of beings and the density of ordinary moments, carrying themes of memory, transmission, and life.