In the very beginning of the world, there was nothing, only emptiness. Viking legend tells that heat and cold came into contact, and from this encounter, a giant was born, followed later by humans. Trolls, Dwarfs, and Elves are not mere superstition, they accompany Icelanders throughout their lives.

In Iceland, everyone listens to the earth, the vibrations of the ground, and the language of the volcanoes.

Antarctica, an imaginary continent that the scholars of the ancient world called Terra Australis Incognita, a forgotten fragment of the giant Gondwana, an immaculate desert without borders or memory, a primal vastness sculpted by the winds with the grace of insolence.

In the distance, the land draws nearer. Beneath the imaginary line of the equator, the sun’s rays strike vertically like a downpour of penetrating blades. The light floods the Pacific Ocean with a deep indigo hue. Around a rocky promontory, cliffs carved from volcanic tuff rise before the expedition ship. The cries of sea lions blend with the calls of blue-footed boobies. Swallow-tailed gulls dance frenetically in a cloudless sky just above the lava fields, colonized by marine iguanas, giant tortoises, and wandering albatrosses.

From June 24 to October 29, 2023, the Belfry of Mons, a UNESCO World Heritage site, will host the large-scale outdoor exhibition titled “Beauty Will Save the World.” This exhibition features the photographs of the renowned French photographer Thierry Suzan.

Known for his work with National Geographic and GEO, Thierry Suzan is an internationally recognized photojournalist who has traveled the world documenting the wonders of both natural and cultural heritage.

This summer, the Mons Museum Hub will present a brand-new selection of 60 photographs by Thierry Suzan, showcasing exceptional UNESCO World Heritage sites from around the world. These large-format photographs will be displayed outdoors, offering visitors an immersive and captivating experience.

As the horizon blazes with fiery hues, the rugged cliffs of Rurutu rise from the crashing surf. For millennia, the relentless swell, wind, and storms have sculpted these rocky shores, eroding them grain by grain. Every year, at the end of the austral winter, humpback whales return to the deep waters of Rurutu to breed and give birth. In an endless dance between the abyss and the light, they break through the darkness, exhaling towering plumes of white mist.

The beauty of the world is on display with this stunning and high-quality GEO 2023 calendar. Each month, discover a breathtaking image by photographer Thierry Suzan. Selected by the GEO editorial team, these images capture the splendor of our planet. From Disko Bay in Greenland to the red Australian desert, this calendar will fuel your wanderlust all year long.

Featuring a spiral binding, thick glossy paper, French craftsmanship, and detailed captions.

Size: 31 x 43 cm

Filming of several sequences for the documentary Beauty Will Save the World, showcased during the UNESCO site exhibition in Belgium in 2023.

Beyond the multitude of forms of expression, humanity is inherently driven to create, undertake, and share. Fueled by dreams and imagination, people transform the present and engage with the collective destiny of society. While solitude is an essential stage, it is within the community that individuals find meaning in their existence. In a society losing its bearings, where the rigidity of convictions distorts interpersonal relations, creativity facilitates the building of harmonious social connections. Exchange thus emerges as a fundamental aspect of socialization, and the cultivation of curiosity, sparked by a passion for innovation, becomes the driving force of knowledge.

In an era dominated by urgent challenges for the planet, a growing distrust in political powers, and the pitfalls of contemporary individualism, people rediscover happiness in beauty, art, and nature sources of true fulfillment. The entire living world thus resonates with the revival of an ethics centered around the Earth. In the midst of identity confusion, the experience of otherness plays a significant role in personal development. The exploration of foreign lands, the discovery of the unknown, and openness to new ideas all contribute to the success of humanity’s greatest achievements. These three approaches also help nurture a profound sense of belonging to the world, built on empathy and contemplation.

An emerald veil lights up the northern night. Across the sky, the ghostly glimmers of winter ripple gracefully into the morning mists. The wind’s breath reaches deep into the essence of existence. For centuries, the auroras borealis have sparked the imagination of ancient Scandinavian peoples. Legends speak of how goblins and dancers would lose their souls while playing with them. In those times, the fjords were the final fortress against an endless world.

For a fleeting moment, the low, red sun sets the marshes ablaze. In the background, the saffron-colored glow of twilight gently touches the towering baobabs. An eerie silence stirs the savannah. Along the riverbanks, the animals brace themselves for battle, stubbornly clinging to survival. Fear resonates with danger. Nothing in the Okavango is trivial, nothing is insignificant. The wind, indifferent, betrays both predator and prey.

The waves crash violently against the cliffs of Suduroy. The breakers are whipped by the swell, while flocks of seagulls glide over the deep Atlantic. With each assault from the sea, the rock is pounded by the waves and the wind.

For as long as anyone can remember, the swell of the waves has gently caressed the vertiginous cliffs of the Marquesas Islands, like the refrain of an ancient Maori song. Clouds carve their way through a sky of ash and fire. A dance of shadow and light reveals the island’s duality, much like the Marquesan people, rooted for centuries in ancestral traditions while confronting the ever-evolving realities of the modern world. At dusk, herds of wild horses, their manes flying in the wind, gallop across the lush plains, as if declaring that the Marquesas Islands will forever remain a land of freedom.

The remote Tuamotu Archipelago captivates the dreamers of today. The islands and lagoons rise from the deep waters of the Pacific Ocean like an expression of a wild paradise, the idyllic coral garden. Open to infinity, the atolls are scattered with coconut trees and motus of white and pink sand.

The exhibition “Antarctica” opens the first edition of the Terre Sauvage Festival. Thierry Suzan’s photographs are displayed in the heart of the Clarée Valley (Hautes-Alpes) at 1,800 meters above sea level. A guided hike with a mountain guide is offered to ascend and discover the exhibition.

From May 25 to September 12, 2021.
The exhibition “Beauty Will Save the World” invites everyone to be immersed in the grace of light plays and to be surprised by the vitality emanating from the animal world. Photographs that bring us closer to these ancient peoples, evoking an emotion that only distant horizons can awaken.

Through the timeless tales of the One Thousand and One Nights and the legendary voyages of Sinbad the Sailor, Lanka ‘the Brilliant’ was a mysterious land of supernatural beauty and radiant wealth. In ancient times, the echoes of Greek and Phoenician sailors, along with the accounts of travelers from the ancient world, referred to Ceylon as the island of all wonders: spice gardens, gem mines, lush vegetation, tropical forests, and crystal-clear waters.

Published on October 17, 2019.

Text and Photography by Thierry Suzan.

In this unprecedented monograph, the Antarctic Peninsula takes on an allegorical dimension, viewed as the gateway to the imaginary world. Beyond this geographical reality, we dive into the poetic and striking universe of the White Continent. As the pages turn, we move away from reality to drift into a wild and dreamlike nature. A geographical journey that echoes an inner journey, inviting a meditative voyage.

Frozen landscapes, unreal lights, captivating spectacles, enchanting colors and atmospheres, an absolute communion with the world. This beautiful book, with its exceptional production in a luxurious case, unveils the magic of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Peninsula is a poetic collection of photographs and texts, a grand tribute to the last sanctuary of the planet.

From December 1, 2017, to August 31, 2018.

Exhibition created as part of the official commemorations of the centenary of World War I.

“Beauty Will Save the World” in Verdun!
Open-air photographic exhibition by Thierry Suzan! As a renowned war correspondent, he presents universal beauties and wonders of today’s world, delivering a humanistic message in the world capital of Peace.

Beauty Will Save the World is the first GEO exhibition in the magazine’s history. Giant photographs by Thierry Suzan will cover the glass roof of the Verdun memorial, the glass roof of the aquadrome, the facades of the market, and the glass roof of the Meuse TGV station. The large exhibition is also available for viewing on Avenue de la Victoire.

Festival “La beauté sauvera le monde”
April 6th to 8th, 2018

In partnership with GEO magazine and sponsored by Allain Bougrain-Dubourg, this festival aims to be resolutely optimistic and positive, offering a renewed perspective on the world.

The festival, created and inspired by the work of photographer Thierry Suzan, takes its name from his stunning book. A collection of breathtaking photos will be showcased in an open-air exhibition throughout the streets of Lagny-sur-Marne during the “La beauté sauvera le monde” festival.

This monumental exhibition, serving as the backbone of the festival, will be visible in pedestrian streets, parks, the town hall, and the church.

A total of 150 magnificent photographs by Thierry Suzan, printed in large format and drawn from his book “La beauté sauvera le monde”, will be on display.

The festival will kick off on the evening of Thursday, April 5th, with an exceptional concert by CharlElie Couture.

The Montier-en-Der Festival and GEO present the exhibition “Beauty Will Save the World.” Rare and poetic photographs by photographer Thierry Suzan, exceptional testimonies of a sublime world and the lives of its people.

To touch consciences and inspire reflection and optimism, Thierry Suzan aims to captivate us with emotion and invite us into his sense of wonder, sharing the magic of his encounters. He remains convinced that art and dreams are powerful tools for change, reminding us that we live in an extraordinary world that we must protect.

A photographic journey around the world, dedicated to dreams, infinity, and freedom.

Thierry Suzan offers us a profound experience: to feel, through his exceptional photographs. The photographer immerses us in the daily lives of Namibia’s inhabitants, a country rich in cultural diversity, home to a myriad of ethnic communities that have preserved their traditions and unique way of life through the ages. The magnificent landscapes are enhanced by the light captured by the photographer, imbuing them with an added soul.

Published on September 29, 2017.

La beauté sauvera le monde is available in three versions: Prestige, Classic, and Kiosk, each accompanied by a correspondence notebook, the GEO 2018 calendar, and a picture book.

This exceptional book features stunning photographs that invite readers to marvel at the beauty of the world, both today and for the future. The images in this groundbreaking and extraordinary work present a fresh perspective on the world around us, offering a hopeful vision of our planet’s future through unforgettable visuals. It is truly an ode to our Earth, celebrating the awe-inspiring landscapes and wildlife that deserve our admiration and protection.

On the occasion of the Climate Conference in Paris (COP21), SNCF Gares & Connexions organizes the largest cultural and national project alongside the event. Convinced that art and dreams are powerful tools for change, SNCF partners with COP21 in Paris by showcasing a monumental reproduction of a photograph by Thierry Suzan, covering over 1,200 m² on the glass facade of Strasbourg station.

While 50,000 delegates from 195 countries gather for COP21 with the aim of reaching a global and binding climate agreement, thousands of penguins mingle with travelers and passersby, reminding us that we live in an extraordinary world—one that we must protect and save.

The goal is to raise awareness, encourage reflection, and spur action—never has the global situation demanded such urgency. Thierry Suzan chooses to do this through emotion, sharing his awe, the splendor of the polar worlds he has seen and experienced, and the magic of his encounters.

Published on September 17, 2015.

Texts and photographs by Thierry Suzan.

Preface by Jean Jouzel (Nobel Peace Prize Laureate in 2007).

Two worlds at the poles, united by a common vertigo: the polar life and the poetry of ice emerge on every page, captivating the reader. Thierry Suzan has traveled for years to the polar regions. He meets the northern peoples and listens to the pulse of their lives. He captures the movement of wildlife living in the heart of a formidable nature… From the Arctic to the Antarctic, from Greenland to Antarctica, this polar journey takes the reader on a unique experience.

The author traces the fate of remote populations with such vividness that we feel as though we are approaching each one closely. His photographs reveal the sublime of glorious landscapes that are beyond imagination. The penguin dances, the bear wanders, and the iceberg rises majestically.

Thierry Suzan writes a vivid testimony of his travels, illuminated by his magnificent photographs, full of poetry, and radiant with beauty. A polar work that inevitably stirs the soul.