Fabrice Dekoninck Comme on Peut gallery photographs - Fabrice Dekoninck, documentary photographer

Photography essay "Comme On Peut", co-produced with Sylvain Demange.

The purpose of this project is to document the lasting memory of a 1915' First World War battle and its current impact on the population of a French village, 100 years after the battle took place.

In 1915, 50.000 soldiers, French and German, died within a few months on a very tiny hill in successive attempts to take control of a overlooking hill which was heavily defended by the German forces. This battle is also famous as some of the most prominent writers of the time fought on that place (Ernst Jünger, Maurice Genevoix), while others were killed or disappeared (Alain Fournier, Louis Pergaud).

The project is based on interviews and on-site archeology work together with memory actors in charge of protecting the memory of those who died and fought on the place. The work also documents landscapes and battlefield remaining artifacts.

The production of the project took place between 2011 and 2017. It was then selected as part of the national events organized to commemorate the centenary of the First World War in France. An exhibition took place in France’s Verdun Memorial in 2017. A photography book was edited to support the exhibition.

Les Eparges national necropolis. December 2012

Mrs Thierry, oldest living person in the village. 2013

poste d&amp;amp;amp;amp;#x27;artillerie dans les bois de saint-rémy-la-calonne

German artillery commanding station in the Saint-Rémy-la-Calonne woods. February 2013

Traditional Whit Monday commemoration in Les Eparges. May 2013

inventeur de la tombe de Alain Fournier dans les bois de Saint-Rémy-la-Calonne

After years of research, Jean Louis discovered the grave of French legendary writer Alain Fournier in the Saint-Rémy woods. April 2015

Bureau de travail de l&amp;amp;amp;amp;#x27;académicien Maurice Genevoix

Working desk of Maurice Genevoix, author of "Ceux de 14" and former French academy perpetual secretary. Saint-Denis-de-l'Hôtel, September 2013

Longeau river valley, down Les Eparges hill. December 2012

Ferme d&amp;amp;amp;amp;#x27;Amblonville Rupt-en-Woëvre

Mrs Hummel is the owner of the farm where Maurice Genevoix and his comrades used to rest in 1915. April 2015

Ferme d'Amblonville, cantonment location of Maurice Genevoix and his soldiers in 1915. April 2015

75mm unexploded French shell in the woods in Saint-Rémy-la-Calonne. November 2012

cratère d&amp;amp;amp;amp;#x27;obus sur la crève des éparges

Shell craters on the ridge of Les Eparges. February 2013

grenade à fusil non explosé dans le bois bois Loclont

French unexploded rifle grenade in Bois Loclont. February 2013

Mr Plancher, former mayor of the village, in front of a trenches local map dated 1915. December 2012

poste d&amp;amp;amp;amp;#x27;observation allemand sur la crête des éparges

German observation post overlooking a mine crater on Les Eparges ridge. December 2012

tranchées française sur la crête des éparges

French trench on the ridge of Les Eparges . December 2012

Colline de Montgirmont dans le village des éparges

Montgirmont hill, where the French artillery was shelling the famous Les Eparges ridge in February 1915. July 2013

Former Verdun History Museum and current mayor of Les Eparges Colonel Xavier Pierson on his private land of Montgirmont hills. July 2013

ruines de l&amp;amp;amp;#x27;hôpital allemand d&amp;amp;amp;#x27;Herbeuville

German military hospital ruins in Herbeuville. July 2013

tombe française avec une épitaphe étrange

French tombstone with a weird epitaph, Saint-Rémy-la-Calonne woods. May 2013

cratère de mine sur la crête des éparges

Mine crater on the ridge of Les Eparges. December 2012

mémorial de Verdun exposition &amp;amp;amp;quot;comme on peut&amp;amp;amp;quot;

"Comme on Peut" exhibition in Verdun. October 2017