I focused my attention on young people, from age 15 to their early twenties. I wanted to show how this period is marked by a search for identity that takes place both individually and collectively with the people around us. Others then become mirrors and guides: their presence and influence reveal facets of ourselves that we were unaware of.
By photographing strangers on the street, in parks, or at nightclubs, I documented situations that resonated with my own experiences. Fear, tenderness, trust, freedom, anxiety, jealousy, sharing, hope - so many feelings that have driven and shaped me up to now.
“Pour bâtir mon royaume” is a love letter to human relationships and a thank-you to the people who have left their mark on my life. I want to encourage the viewer to reflect on their past relationships and how these have shaped who they have become.
Ismaël BOULAKHSAS-PÉRÉ is a french photographer based in Paris, France. He’s interested in human interaction and the ways people inhabit and share space, with a focus on gestures, glances, and striking candid moments that reveal a distinctive perspective on everyday environments.