Jean-Charles Garrivet

Little Big World began as a long-term photographic exploration of real places, architecture and urban memory.

My work starts in the field: walking, observing, testing, waiting for the right moment, and transforming a real location into a circular world. Each planet is connected to a place I physically experienced, not only as a subject, but as an atmosphere.

An art of presence

Each planet begins with a real place, a real journey and a real moment.

I travel to the locations I photograph. I observe the light, test different positions, sometimes fail, return, and work with what the present moment offers: clouds, people, shadows, movement, silence, architecture and atmosphere.

Some images depend on a fragile opportunity, especially when the place is far away and there may never be another chance to return under the same conditions.

Each artwork is the result of time, effort, attention and a direct encounter with a place.

Early public recognition

In 2014, early Little Big World images were shared by public city platforms, including Only Lyon and the official Ville de Villeurbanne page.

These first publications gave the series its early public visibility and confirmed the emotional impact of transforming familiar urban places into miniature worlds.

Early Little Big World publications shared by public city platforms in 2014.

Studio Lux

Little Big World was first presented as a personal exhibition at Studio Lux, with an opening on March 25, 2017.

It was the first time the planets were shown as physical fine art prints. During this exhibition, two artworks entered private collections: Part-Dieu Planet as a 60 x 60 cm print, and Flachet Planet as an 80 x 80 cm print.

This first exhibition confirmed that the series could exist beyond the screen, as large-format photographic objects with a real presence on the wall.

First personal exhibition of Little Big World at Studio Lux.

Musée Gadagne

The project later entered a museum context through a collaboration with the shop manager of the Musée Gadagne.

Several Little Big World artworks were published as postcard editions and sold in the museum shop. A planet created especially around the museum was also displayed there for one year.

This collaboration gave the series a cultural presence connected to history, architecture and the memory of the city.

Little Big World postcard editions displayed at the Musée Gadagne shop.

Théâtre Comédie Odéon

In October 2017, Little Big World was exhibited at Théâtre Comédie Odéon through a partnership with Studio Lux.

The artworks remained on display for three months in a lively cultural venue, surrounded by visitors, conversations and the energy of the city. The opening brought together a large audience and gave the series a more social and public presence.

It was not only an exhibition, but an experience of seeing the works live within a place of culture and exchange.

Little Big World exhibition at Théâtre Comédie Odéon during the opening event.

Regain Art

In June 2024, Little Big World was selected for Regain Art, alongside around 60 artists.

Four artworks were presented as large-format square prints during the three-week exhibition. The event offered time to meet visitors, discuss the work in person and observe how people reacted to the planets as physical fine art pieces.

This exhibition confirmed the strength of the series as collectible wall art: detailed, architectural, poetic and designed to be experienced at scale.

Little Big World artworks presented as large-format square prints during Regain Art.

Beyond the artwork

The same attention to place, light and atmosphere also shapes my professional work in photography and 360° virtual tours.

Through VirtualityJoss, I create visual content for hotels, hospitality brands and architectural spaces, applying the same sense of space, composition and immersive storytelling to real environments.

Little Big World is the more personal expression of that same attention to real places.

Discover VirtualityJoss

From personal journey to collector prints

What began as a personal photographic exploration has gradually become a limited fine art print collection.

Today, Little Big World brings together real places, travel memories and architectural atmospheres as collectible circular worlds.

Each artwork is produced on demand as an unframed fine art collector print, with careful attention to paper, format and presentation.

Explore the Collection