THE KID

We are about ten kilometers from Charleroi (Belgium). Which is glorious here is the past… when we talk about it. History is heavy; life is not easy. On the way, Thomas Fliche took a few breaks in front of huge factories, in front of the slag heaps surrounding the city and in the streets not very reassuring. He does not know this Walloon province well, but he is inspired and the story he has in mind is confirmed in these landscapes. nostalgia for the place, this tension first and then this kid met a little by chance. Killian Dufrenne was 13 years old when the photographer met him in July 2017 during a boxing training. "The Kid" is applied and shows a certain mastery. He gives a lot, and his face takes on another appearance over the rounds. That's good, he's not pretending. When Thomas puts on gloves and gives a few jabs into a bag, the boy watches him from the corner of his eye eye and sketches a small smile. A few hours later, Killian takes Thomas takes a tour of his village. He is calmer, proud to present there where he lives. He really wants to tell his story… In line with the essays photographic, Thomas Fliche has been following and documenting the life of Killian, his family, his world. His regular immersion has allowed the photographer to find his rightful place and to gain in this long-term project intensity, in truth. The book, through the texts and the 150 photographs presented, legitimizes a new approach by rebalancing the forces in presence: the ruins of a territory, youth, sport.