In the 50s, the Rumanian authorities announced that the leprosy,
this " divine punishment ", had been eradicated in Romania. In
reality, out of sight, all the lepers were exiled to Tichilesti,
removing them any official existence, extracting them from their
family and social life. Recognized officially in the 90s and yet
recognized nowhere, they are not more than some patients -
villager in this white zone, this territory of the forgotten: «The
Zona de Alb ».
Photographer collaborating with the agency to explore, several collectives among whom SyncroX, as well as with Foundations of Type Raoul Follereau, Gilles Mercier very fast opted for deep this " part of me where I am not ".
He's acquired licenseof law, he(it) dusted his(its) sensibility by being next(going alongside) to plastic surgeons and to reporters, while remaining under the influence of Lee Friedlander, Gary Winogrand or still Bernard Descamps.
Self-taught, he continues to invest the photographic medium allowing him to integrate the Collective Lumen. Wishing to pursue this progress, he will settle down in Paris to complete his technical formation with the Center Iris. In this context, he will get noticed by Mr Drouet, manager of the department report of the agency Explorer, which will accompany him.
GILLES MERCIER answers then various orders insitutionnelles assuring in parallel missions of assisting photo with AC barber.
After diverse photographic exhibitions, the various meet within the framework of report incited him to put a lot completely in fields of the social action.
Today Director of social Residence, he reinvests this medium.
