In his book Navire amiral, French photographer Stéphane Lavoué reveals the unexpected connections between two worlds that seem distant but are united by shared practices, traditions, and a common history. In the past, sailors would take over theaters during the winter, putting their mastery of knots, pulleys, and teamwork to use on stage. From these cross-pollinations, traditions were born that are still very much alive today.
In residence at the Comédie-Française since 2015, Stéphane Lavoué has explored the behind-the-scenes world of French public theater. Immersed in a windowless building, in the middle of the stage-bridge, or perched near the fly loft cluttered with cables and ropes, the photographer felt as though he were walking the gangways of a frigate and joining the crew of a nuclear submarine.
Driven by this intuition, Stéphane Lavoué then embarked on three iconic vessels of the French Navy: the frigate Bretagne, the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Le Téméraire, and the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. There, too, gestures, rituals, and collective organization give rise to a kind of theatricality in everyday life. By interweaving these two bodies of work, Navire amiral creates a unique visual universe, straddling the line between reality and imagination.
To accompany this collection, Éric Ruf—an honorary member of the Comédie-Française and a stage sailor—has penned short stories and grand adventures that dot the pages of the book, inspiring the flagship to chart new courses.