Trois gouttes de sang comme une fleur

Trois gouttes de sang comme une fleur –
Blood cannot be synthesised, or not yet. Every year, 119 million bags of blood are collected around the world, helping to treat and save thousands of people suffering from a wide range of illnesses, cancers and haemorrhage. The act of giving blood freely and anonymously rebuilds lives and, as much as poppies resist the grip of concrete, lives that are too fragile are maintained by these righteous people, far removed from narcissistic self-importance as much as from the commercial evaluation of their actions. It seemed essential to us to give an account of this delicate and discreet ethic of ordinary practices linking donation, care and gratitude, through a dialogue combining texts and photos. Trois gouttes de sang comme une fleur (Three drops of blood like a flower) is therefore a narrative in two voices – those of a photographer and an anthropologist – combining a realistic view with a poetic apprehension of the world. An interwoven narrative that recognises the importance of these ‘tiny lives’, without which no one would be cared for or saved. Through a photographic style sensitive to the imaginary, Clément Chapillon has woven a ‘red thread’ linking the various players involved in donation, notably through a series of self-portraits. Each person photographed ‘pressed’ the shutter release, thus embodying their commitment and, through this gesture, sharing the solidarity of anonymous generosity. Based on interviews with donors, recipients and healthcare professionals, and questioning his own experience of care, Yannick Jaffré has questioned the words of donation and what vulnerability can add to the human experience. More than ever, at a time when society is questioning the values it shares, it is vital to evoke the other as an inalienable responsibility and to express the necessary joy of simple thanks.