LUMA Arles presents CORRESPONDENCES by Soundwalk Collective and Patti Smith from July 4th to November 8th, 2026, at La Grande Halle, alongside the live performance CORRESPONDENCES (Live) on July 5th and 6th. Developed over more than a decade, the project brings together field recordings, film, and poetry in a powerful exploration of landscape, history, and human connection.
An immersive listening experience shaped by sound and memory
Created by Stephan Crasneanscki and Patti Smith, CORRESPONDENCES draws on recordings captured in some of the world’s most ecologically vulnerable and historically resonant places. Instead of documenting these sites, the work builds a vivid sonic landscape from wind, water, ice, stone, wildlife, and human voices.
Presented in La Grande Halle, the exhibition gathers every film produced during the collaboration, alongside a new commission inspired by the changing landscapes of the Camargue. Film, poetry, and environmental sound converge in a sensory portrait of artistic creation, political memory, and ecological change.
A live performance where poetry, film, and landscape meet
Opening the exhibition, CORRESPONDENCES (Live) brings concert, cinema, and contemporary art into a single performance. Patti Smith’s spoken word intertwines with projected films and previously unseen footage, linking intimate stories to vast natural landscapes.
Field recordings by Stephan Crasneanscki provide the score for Smith’s reflections on literature, memory, and history, creating an experience guided by atmosphere rather than narrative.
The performance features Patti Smith, Stephan Crasneanscki, and Simone Merli of Soundwalk Collective, joined by Lucy Railton, Diego Espinosa Cruz Gonzales, and Pedro Maia. Their collaboration creates a fluid exchange between sound, image, and voice, offering a heightened awareness of the world’s fragile beauty.
CORRESPONDENCES Live
Live visuals by PEDRO MAIA, photography by RITA CARMO
