From October 8 to November 29, 2026, the Académie des beaux-arts will host the exhibition Ukraine, le mal qui reste (Ukraine, the Evil That Remains) by Guillaume Herbaut, winner of the 2024 Marc Ladreit de Lacharrière – Académie des beaux-arts Photography Prize.
The result of investigative and documentary work carried out in various parts of Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion, this exhibition examines the profound consequences of the most devastating conflict Europe has seen since the Second World War. It documents the lives of Ukrainians—soldiers serving on the front lines or recovering from wounds, and civilians facing exile or life under the constant threat of drones—amidst a new, evolving form of technological warfare that is being shaped on the ground every day.
Through his images, Guillaume Herbaut seeks to reveal the visible and invisible traces left by the war on both the population and the landscapes scarred by combat. Beyond material destruction, the exhibition sheds light on the lasting human trauma caused by the conflict: grief, loss, displacement, and the deep psychological toll on a society enduring the ordeal of war.
With the documentary power and sensitivity that define his work, Guillaume Herbaut invites reflection on what remains once the fighting moves on: intimate wounds, fragmented memories, and the enduring scars etched into bodies, minds, and the land itself.
The exhibition is curated by Sylvie Hugues, a correspondent for the Académie des beaux-arts.
This exhibition has been awarded the “Bicentennial of Photography” label by the French Ministry of Culture.
The exhibition is part of the 15th edition of the PhotoSaintGermain festival (November 5–28).
Ukraine, le mal qui reste / Guillaume Herbaut
Oct 8 – Nov 29, 2026
Académie des Beaux-Arts
Paris, France
