See the American West Through the Eyes of Robert Adams

New Jersey-born photographer Robert Adams has lived the life of a traveller. Despite his orgins in the Northeast region of the U.S., he grew up in Wisconsin, lived in Colorado for more than 30 years and finally settled in Oregon. As such, he has been able to capture a powerful vision of the American West from the 1960s onward.

At the Jeu de Paume arts center, an exhibition entitled 'Robert Adams, the Place We Live' reveals the work of the talented and influential photographer until May 18, 2014. Guests staying at one of the Sister Hotels Champs-Elysées will find that the Jeu de Paume, located right next to the Place de la Concorde, is easily accessible from their rooms.

Robert Adams's stark and moving shots reveal a quest for light in the darkness — both literally and figuratively. His subject matter juxtaposes the deplorable and the hopeful, while his visual treatment of these subjects brings out the unsettling nature of even the most mundane. As such, county fair rides seem to smoulder and leer at the spectator from within the enveloping dark void that is life. Artificial bright lights entertain those on the rides, who are unaware of the looming darkness that awaits them once they step beyond the perimeter of the fair. Could this be a metaphor for childhood?

Adams photographs showcase slices of human life, natural landscapes and manmade structures. These diverse elements come together to tell a story of American life in the West from the end of the 20th century to the beginning of the 21st century. Thanks to the enduring career of Adams, spectors can witness the decades-long transformation right before their eyes.