- Hardcover – 256 pages
- Publisher: Editions Tempus Fugit
- Language: English (French version: Le Monde Perdu)
- Format: 30.2cm x 21.6cm
- ISBN: 978-2-9576450-6-0
Released in september 2023
Preface by Denis Brogniart
Jonk is one of the most reputed photographers of abandoned places in the world. For the last ten years, he has travelled the planet, tracking them down. Through his passion for Urbex, he hopes to show how they are slowly transformed before finally disappearing. The impact of passing time is the central theme of the book.
This quest for cracked walls, rusty iron and flaky paint has taken him across more than fifty countries. Today, Jonk gives us the very best of his urban explorations.
The book is prefaced by Denis Brogniart.
A word from the author:
In 2013 I visited my first abandoned place in the suburbs of Paris. At the time, I mainly photographed street art. This is what prompted me to enter this former customs building in Pantin, invested by the cream of Parisian graffiti. I went back several times before it was rehabilitated. This first visit was a revelation. The intense atmosphere that emanated from this place, the feeling of being where I had no right to be, the magnificent paintings reserved for a few adventurers, a path opened up that day.
I immediately looked for other similar places to find graffiti. Then, very quickly, graffiti or not, I started traveling to photograph these forgotten places. At the beginning the East and the North of France, then Belgium. I still remember my first “wasteland” trip abroad: Germany in 2014. A few days alone with already some fears including a first real contact with security guards. It was also almost my first encounter with the police… I knew that this journey would call for many others. Quickly arrived Eastern Europe, then the Balkans. Then, Japan, Taiwan… Later Namibia, Argentina… Passionate, I don’t do things by halves. In ten years, I have traveled four continents, fifty countries and a number of places that I no longer count since it exceeded one thousand five hundred.
These abandoned places fascinate me. I find in them an unequalled aesthetic and what about the questions they ask about our passage on Earth, about what we leave behind.
Ten years after Pantin, and for me who is a book lover, a publication was needed to celebrate this milestone.
This book has a story arc that relates to the aesthetic I was talking about above: decay. This decadence, this impact of time which has passed and which has left its mark on things represents what I find magnificent to observe and photograph in these places. I’m looking for time capsules. Places on which only time has had an impact, without human intervention.
These places out of time, where it is as if suspended, attract me like nothing else. Every image in this book exudes rusty iron, peeling paint, dust…
This work has twenty-two chapters which are either by major themes – industrial, medical, religious, etc. – either subjects dear to the author in this forgotten universe – textures, perspectives, abstract shapes, etc. Many photos from this project have never been published.
Here after, a picture from each chapter:
PRESS REVIEW
“Striking images” OpenEye (translated from French)
“A photographer at heart and in action since his childhood, Jonk practices urban exploration: ignoring the notion of private property or prohibited zones, he confronts our eyes with vestiges devoured by the passing of time. His photos, whose grain remains of rare richness, amaze by changing the dilapidated into space, the outdated into surprising actuality. Traveling the world in search of little-known rubble, the artist offers a (beautiful) voice to these spaces, silent witnesses to memories forgotten by all. And while the ruins rid themselves, image after image, of their unsavory reputations, our dreamy eyes are left to imagine those who, before these cracks and this silence, flourished in these places, brought back to life by this Parisian creative.” Fluctuart (translated from French)
“Breathtaking landscapes. Jonk’s poetic and almost metaphysical photos tell the story of the passage of time and call us to greater respect in the face of this all-powerful nature.” France Televisions (translated from French)
“Jonk stands out as one of the world’s most distinguished photographers of abandoned sites, having devoted a decade to meticulously exploring the planet in search of these abandoned places. In this masterful work, Jonk reveals the ultimate anthology of his urban explorations, capturing the poignant aesthetic of these forgotten spaces. Denis Brogniart’s preface offers preliminary insight into this visual immersion in the ephemeral, while magnifying Jonk’s artistic approach.” Beware (translated from French)
“Jonk, modern-day archaeologist” Chasseur d’images (translated from French)
“Aesthetics of degradation and poetics of ruin are the common thread of his images.” L’Oeil de l’Info (translated from French)
“To sublimate what is abandoned by Man, to resurrect places doomed to oblivion, to awaken, to reanimate even treasures that have run out of breath, such is the mission, rather the vocation of Jonk, Sherlock Holmes of urban wastelands. These vestiges which have fallen into disuse offer themselves to his objective with grace and desire, as if to begin a new life.” Oui (translated from French)
READERS’ OPINION
“Jonk “fixes” sleeping places, abandoned by man and reclaimed by nature. These poetic landscapes of astonishing beauty reflect our humanfragility and give rise to a deeply moving realization: yes, man is only passing through…. So let’s be humble and respectful in the face of this sovereign nature. “Sophie, Fnac (translated from French)
“I’ve just received my copy of The Lost World. It’s beautiful and…I’ve only turned a few pages! I came across the photo on page 125, which I really like. I love this “shining” atmosphere in which we imagine this place full of life and wonder what could have happened for it to become abandoned. Bravo and thank you very much…I’m really happy to have this book in my hands.” Xavier, Instagram (translated from French)
“Superb work. What richness and diversity! I really like the thematic organization and the introduction for each chapter. You can skim over it or focus on a particular subject. Bravo again for this retrospective.” Laurence, Instagram (translated from French)
“Received the book today. Thank you so much, it’s superb and will make someone happy!” Laure, Facebook (translated from French)
“I’ve just finished reading The Lost World. Bravo ! I really enjoyed it. It’s really well written, with a good thread running through it. And a very nice symbiosis between the text and the photos.” Christian, Instagram (translated from French)
“I really liked the thematic photo system and the beautifully written introductory texts. It’s fascinating the similarities there can be between certain places that are nonetheless on opposite sides of the planet.” Noël, Instagram (translated from French)
“Thank you very much. Bravo, it’s a marvel of simplicity. True, fair and full of emotion. I’m delighted to read it and that it’s now with us. Thank you, I encourage you to continue to be who you are.” Myriam, Instagram (translated from French)
“A big bravo for your magnificent work and for bringing to life on paper all those wonderful forgotten places steeped in history. Bravo for your talent and looking forward to continuing to follow you on Instagram.” Inès, Instagram (translated from French)
“Great photos! Bravo ” Dominique, Instagram (translated from French)
“It’s superb! Bravo for this new and very successful book! Thank you also for the postcards, it’s nice! My wife stole them all! “Pierre-André, Facebook (translated from French)
“What a great job, what a great quest for abandoned places. I really like the way you’ve organized your book. It’s amazing all these abandoned places! It must be striking to discover them. It’s as if time has partly stopped. When the objects are still in place, it’s even more striking. I can almost hear the sound of footsteps on the plaster, the rubble, the echo of emptiness, the resident bird taking flight. In short, very fine work.” Fanny, Facebook
“Really beautiful!” Laurence, Instagram (translated from French)
“Beautiful” Bruno, Facebook (translated from French)
“I’m beginning to discover it. I’ll go through it once and then again to make sure I haven’t missed any details of your magnificent photos. And surely more will follow. Thank you for your magnificent work and the resulting book. I look forward to the other projects after discovering you in Plessis-Macé and contemplating you again in Dinard.” Frédérique, Instagram (translated from French)
“Well received and can’t wait to dive in. Too bad I’m working today.” Charlotte, Instagram (translated from French)
“The book is just wahouuuuuu!!!” Fanny, Facebook (translated from French)
“A superb book that stops us in time, makes us think, questions us. Thank you for this journey.” Mzelle Sarapoppins, Instagram (translated from French)
“I love this book!” Audrey, Instagram (translated from French)
“I’ve just finished reading The Lost World. I really enjoyed it, it’s a really beautiful book.” Anne, Facebook (translated from French)
“What a magnificent piece of work.” Cécile, Instagram (translated from French)
“It’s great. I’m going to take the time to taste it all.” Emmanuel, Instagram (translated from French)
“Thank you for sending the beautiful postcards and the equally beautiful book.” Séverine, Facebook (translated from French)
“I’ve just finished my first reading (as there will be others, to better observe and discover the details that escape at first sight) of your magnificent work. I share many of your feelings, that of disturbing a place of life, of intimacy, of pushing open the doors of a place of worship (and I’m not religious!) and appreciating the beauty of the frescoes, for example. I hope to discover another of your exhibitions, there was a very beautiful staging at the Château du Plessis-Macé.” Frédérique, Facebook (translated from French)
“Superb book.” Corinne, Facebook (translated from French)
“Very nice! A lot of work during these 10 years… ” Claudine, Facebook (translated from French)
“Thanks again for the books that were a big hit!” Clara, Facebook (translated from French)
“Great work, can’t wait to look at it in detail!” Lénaïc, Facebook (translated from French)
“I confess I haven’t even had a chance to leaf through it yet, my daughter Charlotte (18, in her 2nd year of architecture) has got hold of it, all I’ve heard about it is “this book is incredible, this artist is crazy””. Laurence, Facebook
“Very nice work, you can be proud. Nice preface by our friend Brogniart. Bravo.” Jean-Christophe, Instagram (translated from French)
“I’ve watched the beginning so far and I like the presentation. I like it when the countries of the places are noted. I think this is my favorite format, by theme I like it.” Elodie, Facebook (translated from French)
“I really enjoyed the book. The quality of the book (printing and layout) is superb. Bravo for your remarkable work.” Olivier, Facebook (translated from French)
“I’ve finished reading The Lost World. Here’s my debrief, I’ll try to keep it brief (but I don’t think I will!). It was quite moving to read in black and white some of the feelings I’ve already had during my explorations. The very first chapter got me into the mood. What a joy to discover in words something I feel so strongly every time. The growing excitement as you discover the building you’ve come to see. Thrills and chills. I then enjoyed the chapter devoted to hospitals (I’m in the health business) and my opinion must be biased, but these are places I love enormously, even though each time I shudder at these medical secrets. The chapter on homes also touched me. These are the explorations I find hardest to enjoy, and it takes a hell of a lot of “decay” to make me feel good about them. Otherwise, I feel like I’m violating the privacy of people who were there not so long ago… I really don’t understand the attraction some people have for houses where everything is nickel-plated in the style of a second home… Besides, aren’t they really second homes?! I think I could have a little word on each text in this book, so I’ll avoid it, but to sum up: bravo! It brings back a lot of things and anecdotes every time. I hope it also allows non-urbexers to dream too and imagine a little better what we can feel.” Emilie, Instagram (translated from French)
“A must-have in any library worthy of the name. Corinne, Facebook (translated from French)
“Well received The Lost World, a marvel with beautiful photos and poignant texts, I highly recommend.” Magali, Instagram (translated from French)
“Great book, love it.” Ludovic, Instagram (translated from French)
“Denis Brogniart’s foreword is amazing! I can’t wait to read it, but at the same time I don’t want to finish it. Thank you so much for shedding some wonderful light on our beautiful passion, which is trying so hard to keep a good image despite all the excesses that pseudo enthusiasts bring to it…” Adrien, Instagram (translated from French)
“Beautiful, the book is incredible.” Véronique, Facebook (translated from French)
“Bravo for your book, it’s magnificent, very impressive, what a job!” Géraud, Facebook (translated from French)
“I have The Lost World. Such a beautiful world…” Catherine, Facebook (translated from French)
