RACHEL COBB

Mistral is my 20-year project photographing the effects of France’s legendary wind that funnels down the Rhône River Valley between the Alps and Massif Central mountains, blowing as often as 200 days a year, sometimes reaching hurricane strength. It is not just a weather phenomenon, it is an integral part of Provençal life, honing the landscape, influencing the architecture and agriculture, and shaping the character of the inhabitants. It slams doors, lifts roof tiles, steals fruit from trees. It’s a gremlin wreaking havoc – everywhere, yet always unseen. As long as there have been inhabitants in Provence, they have endured the mistral. I explore what it is to live in its path. My work takes place where an invisible force becomes visible through what it touches. How to render movement in a still object in a way the viewer will feel it – that has been my principal conundrum since I began this project. These prints on silk, that move in the breeze, connect you not only to Provence’s famous wind but also to her heritage of silk-making. I began printing my Mistral images on silk in 2017, and they were first exhibited in Provence in July 2022.