LONDON.- Marie Jose Gallery will reopen the gallery soon and will present Belonging, its upcoming photographic exhibition by Sabaya V., opening on Tuesday 8th September.
Across the plains of Argentina, the beaches of Rio de Janeiro and the towns and villages of Punjab, Sabaya found the same thread running through each encounter: a profound connection between people, their work, their traditions and the places they call home.
ARTIST STATEMENT
“Every place has its own identity, shaped not only by its landscapes but by the people who call it home.
Across the plains of Argentina, the beaches of Rio de Janeiro and the towns and villages of Punjab, I found the same quiet thread running through each encounter: a profound connection between people, their work, ther traditions and the places they call home.
Rather than seeking extraordinary moments, these photographs celebrate the authenticity of everyday life. They are an invitation to pause and appreciate the quiet beauty found in ordinary routines, in work carried out with pride, in crattsmanship passed from one generation to the next, and in communities whose lives remain deep rooted in their surroundings.
Together these three series explore the universal idea of belonging, not as a place on a map, but as a feeling. A sense of identity forged through work, culture, tradition and an enduring connection to place.”
- Sabaya Verger
Sabaya Verger’s first solo exhibition, Belonging, brings together photographs made over three years across Argentina, Brazil and Pakistan, exploring the universal themes of home, identity and our enduring connection to place.
Sabaya Verger is a French self-taught photographer based in London. Raised in the countryside of northern France, she grew up surrounded by horses and nature. Born into a family of artists, she developed an early appreciation for beauty in the smallest details—from the changing colours of the sky and the shadows of leaves dancing in the wind to the craftsmanship of a sculpture, the ornamentation of a faade or a single brushstroke in a painting. This way of seeing continues to shape her work today.
Driven by an insatiable curiosity about people and cultures, Sabaya's photography explores the lives of those who give a place its character. Her lifelong passion for horses has taken her across the world, offering a unique gateway into communities and tst be entrusted. Only then does the camera become almost invisible.
Alongside her photographic practice, Sabaya works in London's luxury real estate market and is the co-founder of ISAYA, a travel and lifestyle community that creates immersive experiences by connecting members with local hosts and friends, encouraging a deeper understanding of the places they visit.
Argentina: The Land of the Gauchos series
Argentina unfolds through distinct landscapes, each revealing a different rhythm of life.
From the vast horizons of Patagonia, where solitary riders disappear into the immensity of the Andes and nature dwarfs all who cross it, to the working cattle farm of Caldenes, where generations of gauchos continue a way of life shaped by the seasons, the livestock and the land itself.
Together, these two series explore the relationship between people and place—one through the overwhelming scale of the natural world, the other through the quiet resilience, craftsmanship and enduring spirit of those who work the land.
Pakistan - Through the Heart of Punjab series
Punjab is a land of remarkable contrasts, where ancient traditions continue to shape everyday life.
From the historic streets of Lahore to the salt-rich landscapes that have sustained generations of workers, this series explores the people, places and craftsmanship that define one of Pakistan's most culturally rich regions.
Together, these photographs offer an intimate portrait of a heritage that endures through work, resilience and community.
Rio de Jainero: Ipanema series
Photographed on the beaches of Ipanema, this series captures the essence of everyday Brazilian life.
From the vendors and beach workers who shape the shoreline to the effortless rhythm of those who gather by the sea, these photographs celebrate the warmth, vitality and unmistakable spirit of Rio de Janeiro.
