For the past few years, Martin Gobert has been hunting for memory cards from second-hand digital compact cameras, searching for the memories of strangers. The more he collected, the more he noticed our tendency to preserve similar souvenirs: family occasions, holidays, and moments of celebration—the pure moments of “joy”.

This project stems from his fascination with vernacular photography, an archival tool that stamps and preserves moments spent with family. This is precisely what makes it a gold mine—a way to investigate human behavior by observing what we consider worth remembering. ‘Souvenir Mimetism’ explores how unique but yet similar our souvenirs are preserved. He questions what we choose to memorize, reflecting on the ironic model of remembering.

Martin created an interactive installation incorporating two elements:

— Universal photo albums, using found albums as a canvas, containing photos from the various memory cards he collected. He reappropriates them by integrating turning wheels with the faces of his family.

— Cut-out boards from his family archive, where you can place your face inside the cut-outs, reappropriating his personal souvenirs.