As part of the first collaborative documentary photography residency of Mauritius, two other photographers and I worked on portraying the small village of Petit Verger located in the centre of the island. The village, located at the foot of the mountain called ‘Le Pouce’, is representative of what the highlands of Mauritius look like. The aim was to shine a light on places that are often overlooked by the many tourists that come to visit the island and even by the Mauritians themselves. The surroundings of Petit Verger are also going through considerable changes with the major development of a smart city. There was an important need to document it.
The mountain 'Le Pouce' overlooking a blue house which is representative of the architecture of the village. Petit Verger, Moka. Mauritius. July 2022.
Santa standing outside her house next to which is her small field where she cultivates taro leaves and takes care of a few goats and chickens by herself. Petit Verger, Moka. Mauritius. July 2022.
Gislene in her house after coming back from washing her clothes down the river. Besides her old age, every week she walks down many treacherous stairs with her clothes basket and washes them on the rocks in the river. Petit Verger, Moka. Mauritius. July 2022.
Mala's hands. She is wearing a sacred red thread around her wrist as most Hindus do. Petit Verger, Moka. Mauritius. July 2022.
Towels drying outside of a house in the village. Petit Verger, Moka. Mauritius. July 2022.
Jeans drying out on the bougainvillea’s bushes. Petit Verger, Mauritius. July 2022
A Christian shrine outside of a house. A frail electric cord connected to the house is keeping the shrine alight. Petit Verger, Moka. Mauritius. July 2022.
Suma in his shoe workshop. He learnt the craft from his father and works hard to keep the knowledge alive. He is one of the few remaining traditional cobblers left in Mauritius. Petit Verger, Moka. Mauritius. July 2022.
