Jeremie Brugidou

Jérémie Brugidou holds a PhD in arts and is a filmmaker, writer, and currently an artist-researcher at Iméra, working in the field of underwater environmental humanities. His research focuses on human/non-human relationships and follows a transdisciplinary arts & sciences approach, particularly in connection with bioluminescence.

The project

Title: Charisma: Exploring the Connections Between Coastal Societies and Large Cetaceans

"Charisma is a research project exploring the relationships between coastal societies and large cetaceans. The Basque Country was chosen as the field of study due to its rich heritage and contemporary dynamics. Once a whaling hub, the Southwest region is now home to several naturalist organizations that maintain close ties with local cetacean populations.

Once a provider of light—its oil fueling illumination and industrial expansion—the whale has now become a symbolic and emotional beacon. As a protected, "charismatic" species, its presence and absence alike evoke fascination and mobilization. From majestic silhouettes glimpsed at sea to dramatic strandings, and skeletons displayed in museums, our research traces the unique history we share with these ocean giants.

By gathering scientific knowledge, testimonies, and popular traditions, we examine this complex relationship—one shaped by past exploitation and ongoing wonder. This Arts/SSH project will culminate in a creative documentary."

Institution: Iméra

Selected Publications

• Towards an Ecology of Appearance: Bioluminescence and Cinema, Mimésis Editions, 2022.
• The Whale’s Fire, feature-length documentary, co-directed with Fabien Clouette, 2025.