In La Rochelle, from September 11 to 14, 2026, Grégory Herpe and Éric Piou bring their photographic visions together to support the Arkoun association
What if a photograph could help save a life?
From September 11 to 14, 2026, La Rochelle will host a rather special exhibition. Two photographers, a strong friendship, two perspectives, two sensibilities — but one shared story: a journey through Cambodia shaped by encounters, humanity and solidarity.
Grégory Herpe, a professional photographer, and Éric Piou, Arkoun’s logistics coordinator and a particularly talented amateur photographer, have decided to bring their images together for a sales exhibition, with 100% of the proceeds donated to Arkoun.
An exhibition to look.
An exhibition to travel.
But above all, an exhibition to help.
At the heart of the hospital, where photography becomes a testimony
During his trip to Cambodia earlier this year, Grégory Herpe accompanied the volunteer surgeons of Arkoun, a French organization whose medical teams provide free surgery to Cambodians who cannot afford the treatment they need.
In Kampong Cham, he was able to photograph what usually takes place behind the doors of an operating theatre: focused surgeons, precise gestures, fragile bodies, faces and eyes.
He photographed directly during hip operations, working as close as possible to the medical teams, as well as photographing patients and their families inside the hospital.
The images are powerful, sometimes confronting, but above all deeply human.
Because behind every operation there is a person in pain, a family, a daily life made difficult — and sometimes the possibility of simply walking again, working again, and living without pain.
Then Cambodia escapes the operating theatre
But Grégory Herpe’s Cambodia is, of course, not limited to the hospital.
Throughout the journey, his camera also turned towards the children of Phnom Penh, the extraordinary temples of Angkor, the macaques of Bokor, the floating villages of Tonlé Sap Lake, and all those fragments of a country where beauty, poverty, traditions and an extraordinary energy coexist.
Images that are sometimes contemplative, sometimes moving, sometimes unexpected.
A living Cambodia, far removed from the usual postcards.
Two photographers, two perspectives
These photographs are joined by the work of Éric Piou.
As Arkoun’s logistics coordinator, Éric experiences Cambodia in a different way. He accompanies the organization’s missions, helps coordinate their work and sees what happens behind the scenes. But he also has a genuine photographer’s eye.
His approach therefore enters into dialogue with Grégory Herpe’s.
The same country. The same journey. But not necessarily the same images.
That is precisely what makes this exhibition so interesting. Rather than attempting to tell the story of Cambodia through a single perspective, the two photographers have chosen to bring their visions together.
Two ways of looking at the same realities. Two sensibilities. Two photographic languages.
And behind these differences lies a shared purpose: to raise awareness of Arkoun’s work and help make it possible for its teams to return to Cambodia.
Two talks with Grégory Herpe – open to everyone
As part of the exhibition, Grégory Herpe will give two talks, open to everyone, about his journey through Cambodia, his photographic work and his encounter with the Arkoun teams.
📍 Friday, September 11 at 6:00 p.m.
📍 Saturday, September 12 at 6:00 p.m.
These two events will offer an opportunity to discover the behind-the-scenes story of the reportage, hear about the photographs taken inside the hospital and operating theatre, and explore the many different faces of Cambodia encountered during the journey.
Two special opportunities to discover the photographs in a different way, understand the stories behind them and meet the photographer in person.
Admission is free and open to everyone.
Photographs exceptionally available at affordable prices
The exhibition is also designed as a charity photography sale.
And this may be the perfect opportunity to treat yourself to a photograph while doing something genuinely useful.
The prints on display will be exceptionally offered at very affordable prices, so that everyone can take a photograph home.
You don’t need to be a collector.
You don’t need a large budget.
Buying a photograph here means acquiring an image you love while directly contributing to a medical and humanitarian mission.
And above all, 100% of the proceeds from the sales will be donated to Arkoun.
The money raised will help the organization fund its next missions and enable its volunteer surgeons to return to Cambodia to provide free surgery to people who, without this support, would have no access to these operations.
A photograph on your wall, an operation made possible
That is ultimately the purpose of this exhibition.
To transform something as fragile as a photograph into something very concrete.
A photograph hanging on your wall can become, somewhere in Cambodia, an operation, treatment, a new chance to walk, to work, to live without pain.
So come and discover these two perspectives on Cambodia.
Come and see the images from the hospital, the faces, the children, the temples, the animals, the landscapes and the scenes of everyday life.
And if a particular photograph touches you, take it home with you.
It will then have a second life.
The first is the life of the moment when it was photographed.
The second is the life of the person it may help change.
Perry Heeggor
CAMBODIA – TWO PERSPECTIVES FOR ARKOUN
Photography exhibition and charity sale by Grégory Herpe & Éric Piou
📅 September 11–14, 2026
📍 Salle Amos Barbot
37 rue du Collège, 17000 La Rochelle, France
Talks by Grégory Herpe – Free admission
Friday, September 11 at 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 12 at 6:00 p.m.
100% of sales proceeds donated to Arkoun.
Photographs exceptionally available at affordable prices, making it possible for as many people as possible to take part.
Come and look. Come and meet. Come and buy.
And above all, come and help Arkoun return to Cambodia.
Follow the exhibition and the photographers
Arkoun – Instagram
Grégory Herpe – Instagram
Éric Piou – Instagram
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