Matis Bobet’s photographic study on the failure of the American Dream and its broken promises is a deeply personal exploration that stems from his solo travels through the heart of America. Focusing on states like California, Utah, Arizona, and Nevada, Bobet captures the stark realities of a nation once built on the ideals of prosperity, opportunity, and limitless growth. His images reflect the decaying remnants of those promises, portraying empty highways, forgotten towns, and souls abandoned by time. It’s a visual narrative of a dream deferred, where ambition has given way to a haunting quiet.
In his travels, Bobet’s work recalls Dante’s descent into the Inferno. Each state he passes through feels like a new circle of this hell, not filled with sinners, but with the forgotten and forsaken—the victims of a dream that never came to fruition. The desolate landscapes, the ghostly silence of once-thriving towns, and the emptiness of abandoned homes reflect the deeper emotional and spiritual decay that lingers in these places. His photographs are not just records of physical ruins but of a psychological unraveling, where hope and belief in the dream have faded away.
Greek mythology also serves as an underlying thread in his study. The tragedy of Medea, betrayed by the very promises she trusted, parallels the millions who invested their lives in the American Dream only to find themselves abandoned by it. Similarly, Bobet draws on the myth of Icarus, whose ambition to fly too close to the sun mirrors America’s relentless pursuit of success, only to crash when the dream proved too fragile to sustain.
Los Angeles plays a central role in Bobet’s study, not only because of its own history of boom and bust but because it is a city he calls home. Having grown up in Los Angeles, Bobet has witnessed firsthand the cycles of decadence and decline that mirror Babylon, the ancient city whose unchecked ambition and grandeur ultimately led to its downfall. Through his lens, Los Angeles is not just a backdrop but a symbol of the American Dream at its most opulent and its most fragile.
The city’s sprawling streets and towering structures once stood as testaments to what America promised, but now they are monuments to an unattainable ideal, crumbling under the weight of their own expectations. His personal connection to Los Angeles adds an additional layer of complexity, making this project as much about his own journey through the dream’s illusions as it is about the nation’s decline.
About the author: Matis Bobet
Matis Bobet, a photographer born in 2001 and based in Paris, has honed his craft in cities like Paris and Los Angeles. His experience includes assisting renowned photographers such as Joey Cultice and Guillaume Zuili and working on editorial projects for Paper magazine. Matis’s academic journey led him from Otis College in L.A. to Atelier Chardon Savard in Paris, where he studied fashion and art. Passionate about cinema and music, he has traveled throughout North America, Europe, and East Asia, drawing inspiration for his creative work.
