Thomas Chable made a name for himself with the series Odeurs d’Afrique (1993-1997), which was published in 2001, and another long cycle devoted to the Brûleurs (2001-2003), immigrants who, in the hope of a better life in Europe, get rid of their papers before crossing the Straits of Gibraltar. Gradually, by taking the time necessary for encounters, he deepened his relationships with the African continent. He listens, talks, exchanges and takes delicate photos. In Ethiopia, often considered the cradle of humanity, he produced two series: Ivresse et Angoisses and Site de Lucy. The set of photographs acquired by SPACE, Soddo Tikimit Hôtelli. éthiopie, was taken in a highland hotel, where he won the trust of the young female staff, who were waitresses, cleaners and prostitutes. After sharing their daily lives, he offers us five portraits of them, as well as material traces of their relatively precarious lives, such as their suitcases and the beds they occupy in turn. (Genaro Marcos)