Is this tight or what?! These, my dear friends, were actually taken on June 1888, October 14, 1888, and January 20, 1889 showing the Eiffel Tower in three different stages during its construction. When I saw it, I went “This. Is. Suh-huuuuuh… suhhh… *slaps-self* Surreal.” Then a solitary tear rolled down my cheek. Kidding aside, if this ain’t the shiz, I dunno what is!

This 3-photograph piece entitled “La tour Eiffel en construction” by Théophile Féau is currently on display for the 100 x France (Photographies françaises des origines à aujord´hui) photography exhibit now up at the Ayala Museum. The 100 framed photos in this collection were taken between the years 1826 up to 1999 (if I remember the dates correctly). Photography and art enthusiasts are bound to have a field day with each of the finely preserved snapshots of history (and otherwise) featured in this gallery.

100 x France is open for public viewing until May 13, 2008 (per my inquiry with the Ayala Museum). Admission fees are at P150 for adults and P75 for children, students, and senior citizens. If you are into photography, I suggest that you take time to see this (I’m looking at you, dear photo bloggers. You know who you are). I left the gallery last night feeling, for want of a better term, “richer” in that I had a glimpse of things and moments in history I had never had the opportunity to experience before from any other media.

100 x France was launched last night alongside the Deguste exhibit, dubbed as an “aesthetic fusion between gastronomy and art” by artists Stephanie Sagot and Emmanuelle Becquemin. The event is part of French Spring 08 presented by AllianceFrançaise de Manille and the Ambassade de France aux Philippines. Launch is co-presented by Nokia.

Appropriately, these words end the explanatory notes for 100 x France: “Photography does not (necessarily) say what it is no longer, but only and certainly what was” -Roland Barthes, Camera Lucida. Reflections on Photography, 1982.

This post isn’t sponsored by the Ayala Museum but for your convenience, I’ll provide you with their info: Tel (632) 757 7117. Museum Hours: Tue-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat-Sun 10am-7pm, Monday-Closed
.
.