Portraits

Magical encounters during my journeys

For months at a time during each of the past 21 years, Marc has abandoned urban civilization to ride his bicycle across a land bereft of borders and fences on journeys spanning 17,000 kilometres. In all four seasons, he has spent between 10 to 14 hours per day climbing hundreds of lofty passes, crossing the gigantic steppe and Altaï and Kanghai mountains and cutting through Siberian forests and the 33 deserts that form the Mongolian Gobi. Marc has encountered all of Mongolia’s ethnic groups, most of them of Türk and Mongol origin, learning the sense of humility that comes from living in simple, harsh yet strikingly beautiful surroundings. These portraits are memories of the beautiful encounters he made during his adventures.

Discreet

Young girl or pure soul of the ethereal space, of the Uuld ethnic group living in the region of Kobdo.
Sum of Hovd province, km 623, September 2005

Modest but of noble origin

A shepherd, nomad of the steppe of Shar, met at the school of Altaï sum of the province of Govi-Altaï.
During the crossing of the southern Gobi, km 1612, June 2006

Mischievous

Adorable devil and nomad of the alps, licensed in assorted tricks. Met during the long climb of the northern slopes of the Egyn pass.
Arkanghaï province, km 550, at the beginning of June 2003

Respect of the parents

Moral value of a shepherd in his Sunday best, a promising lad met next to the tiny oasis of Mahar, located in between the Nomingiyn desert the mountain of Bogd, Alt – 2150 m.
Govi-Altaï province, km 1500, May 2006

Rainbow

Young dressmaker all in plait and laces, as well a shepherdess of the Kanghaï region. Met on the northern slopes of the Zagast pass.
Province of Zavkhan, km 1465, September 2005

Ray of sunshine

Pastourelle herding a flock of sheeps in the Hovsgol mountains that are close to Shine Ider and the Zoolongyin pass.
km 1680, June 16th 2003

Born from the earth

A little shepherdess of character, of the Halh ethnic group, met close to Jargalant
Province of Arkanghaï, km 1670, June 2003

Dew of the dawn

Pastourelle of sheeps or “shout of emotion”, of the Torguut ethnic group, met high in the Altaï, on the eastern slopes of the Tsagaan Hotol pass.
Nearby the village of Bayanzürk, in Hovd province, km 774, June 2008

Jovial

Friendly shepherd and student, met during the journey to the land of the thousand blue, on the trail leading to Tolbo.
Bayan Ulgii province, km 550, September 19 2005