The Tribune

By Alesha Cadet

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

AT the Champion Spirit Country Club, visitors to ROUND 11 have been greeted by a compelling collection of images that invite quiet reflection, conversation, and emotional connection.

The exhibition, showcasing the work of acclaimed French photographer and filmmaker Richard Aujard, has drawn attention for the honesty and intensity captured within each portrait.

Since opening in Nassau, the exhibition has drawn attention for its striking images of internationally recognised figures including Éric Cantona, Evander Holyfield, Jake LaMotta, Jean-Paul Belmondo, and Monica Bellucci. Yet according to Shanon Aujard, son and legal heir of the late artist, the true focus of his father’s work was never celebrity itself.

“Even when photographing well-known figures, he was always trying to reveal something genuine and deeply human. I think that is what resonated with people here,” said Shanon.

He noted that many visitors connected not only with the photographs themselves, but also with the atmosphere surrounding the exhibition at Champion Spirit Country Club.

“There was also a beautiful connection with the atmosphere of Champion Spirit Country Club and the values the place represents,” he said.

Presented as a continuation of the larger Exhibition 11 previously staged in Paris, ROUND 11 offers a more intimate look into Richard Aujard’s artistic universe. For Shanon, bringing the exhibition to Nassau carried personal significance, particularly through the collaboration with Abdoulaye Fadiga, who was a longtime friend and collector of his father’s work.

“What touched me most were the simple and genuine exchanges with visitors. Many people took the time to share a memory connected to one of the personalities photographed, or to speak about an emotion they felt while looking at an image,” said Shanon.

He said it all felt very natural and sincere. And organising the exhibition with Abdoulaye Fadiga also made the experience especially meaningful.

“He was a friend of my father and has collected his work for many years. He truly understood his artistic world, so presenting ROUND 11 at Champion Spirit felt deeply personal and authentic,” he added.

Throughout the exhibition, themes of strength, resilience, vulnerability, and identity emerge repeatedly across the portraits, regardless of whether the subject is a world-famous athlete, actor, biker, or traveller encountered along the artist’s journey.

Shanon said those universal emotions appear to be what audiences in The Bahamas connected with most strongly.

“Whether photographing athletes, actors, bikers, or people he encountered during his travels, he always tried to reveal the person behind the image. Many visitors told me they could feel that sincerity in the photographs, and that was very moving for me,” he said.

The number 11, which inspired both the Paris exhibition and its Nassau continuation, also holds special meaning within Richard Aujard’s life and artistic legacy.

While the exhibition features internationally recognised faces, Shanon believes the emotional core of the work allows audiences to connect with it on a deeply personal level.

“To those who are still hesitating to come and see ROUND 11, I would simply say: take the time to experience the exhibition. My father had a very instinctive way of photographing people, and I believe that still comes through strongly in his work today,” Shanon added.

The exhibition continues at Champion Spirit Country Club through June 15.

“It is a wonderful opportunity to discover this universe in an intimate setting at Champion Spirit Country Club,” said Shannon.