As part of the 3rd edition of the Neuchâtel Photographic Survey, Olga Cafiero takes us in the footsteps of the philosopher and writer Jean-Jacques Rousseau, to discover the flora of Neuchâtel. The photographer surveyed the canton to highlight various plant categories: invasive plants, protected, common and absent plants, those that Rousseau botanist gathered and studied during his stay in Môtiers (1762-1765).

An index of 130 flowers encountered during his walks sheds light on this work, anchors it in a scientific collection approach which is similar to the herbarium without however claiming to do so. By proceeding in distinct series, interacting with them and developing a visual language specific to each of them, the photographer delivers a very original interpretation of Neuchâtel’s floral heritage, of great artistic and aesthetic quality.

Olga Cafiero, born in 1982 in Como, is an Italian-Swiss photographer. Since 2008, her works have been exhibited regularly in Switzerland and abroad.