LALIBERTÉ, Guy

The Earth like you’ve never seen it before, captured in over 150 extraordinary photographs taken from space by Guy Laliberté, founder of Cirque du Soleil…

Gaia is the latest tour de force of Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté, the first-ever private space explorer to publish a book chronicling his photographic journey. Here in more than 300 pages, Laliberté presents stunning photographs of the Earth taken from 220 miles away during an eleven-day trip in space, with unique views of nearly forty countries. Documents both rare and captivating, his images are natural works of art, rich in color and texture. Gaia showcases the planet we inhabit as it has never been seen before.

Guy Laliberté was born in Québec City. An accordionist, stilt-walker, and fire-eater, he founded Cirque du Soleil, Québec’s first internationally renowned circus, with the support of a small group of colleagues. A bold visionary, Laliberté recognized and cultivated the talents of the street performers from the Fête foraine de Baie-Saint-Paul. He was the first to orchestrate the marriage of cultures and artistic and acrobatic disciplines that is the hallmark of Cirque du Soleil. Since 1984, he has guided the creative team through the creation of every show. Today, Cirque du Soleil is a sprawling international operation, as much in terms of its makeup as in the scope of its activities and influence. Guy Laliberté now heads an organization with activities on five continents.

Laliberté dedicated his personal spaceflight to raising awareness about water issues facing humankind, making his the first “Poetic Social Mission” in space. Proceeds from the sale of Gaia benefit ONE DROP.

Artist’s Work :

Gaia – Collector`s Edition Books :

“I see Earth. It is so beautiful!” -Yuri Gagarin

This is the photographer’s book of Guy Laliberté, founder of Cirque du Soleil and One Drop. It is a contemplative tribute to the beauty and the fragility of the Earth. For all generations, all nations, all origins, all backgrounds, this book is a common thread around a worldwide need – preserve our Earth – transcending all our differences : cultural, ethnic, religious…

GAIA, a personal, creative project by Guy Laliberté, founder of Cirque du Soleil and Chair of the Board of Directors of ONE DROP, is an artistic perspective of planet Earth. The project consists of three distinct editions of a book showcasing artistic photographs taken by Guy during his Poetic Social Mission in Space aboard the International Space Station (ISS), in 2009. All profits from the sale of these books and his large scale colour photography will go directly to ONE DROP. Its mission is to fight poverty worldwide by supporting access to safe water and raising awareness of water-related issues through its distinctive approach based on social arts and popular education.