Live an experience
To rediscover meaning through creation,
and craft a vision that reflects who you truly are.
With Sebastien J. Zanella
& become part of the Desillusion Utopia Society 🥀
Hosted by
Sébastien J. Zanella — photographer, filmmaker, poet, and founder of the Desillusion Utopia Society.
For over two decades, Sébastien J. Zanella has explored the invisible side of existence. His work moves between the sacred and the ordinary, revealing what lies beneath appearances : the pulse of freedom, the silence of the self, the fragile beauty of the real.
From skateboarding to the desert, from the ocean to the intimacy of a portrait, his vision seeks one thing: to make life itself a form of poetry.
After creating films and books for Louis Vuitton, Saint Laurent, Chloé, and Hermès, he now dedicates his time to a deeper pursuit : helping others find meaning through creation.
Through workshops, mentorships, letters, and secret gatherings, he brings together a living fellowship of outsiders, artists, and seekers who wish to create consciously and live poetically.
Within this movement, Desillusion Utopia stands as a collective journal : the written and visual trace of those who walk the path
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To join ; one must live. 🥀
Explore what’s real.
Share your vision.
Create consciously.
& let your art become a way of living.
Step into the journey
Spend a week in Tenerife, where creation becomes a way of living.
More than a workshop, this is an intimate experience ; a shared time of reflection, creation, and presence.
Guided by Sébastien, you’ll explore what it means to create with intention, to slow down, to reconnect with your own rhythm and with others.
Through walks, dialogues, and simple acts of making, you’ll rediscover the essence of your vision ; that quiet space where art and life meet.
Here, technique and intention walk together ;
you learn how to do, to remember why you create.
It’s an invitation to live, to feel, and to let your work become the natural extension of who you are.
🥀
Creation is the path. Learning how to see is the destination.
Tenerife : A Land of Contrast and Exploration
Tenerife, the largest island of the Canary Islands, lies approximately 62 miles (100 kilometers) off the coast of Morocco in the Atlantic Ocean.
Accessible by a three-hour flight from every major European capital, it is one of the most diverse islands in the world. From towering volcanic peaks to lush forests, dramatic cliffs, and pristine golden beaches, Tenerife offers a landscape designed for self-discovery and creative inspiration.
Here, the journey extends beyond photography; traversing volcanic deserts, immersing yourself in the waves surrounded by millennia-old mountains, and exploring movement as a way to connect with the landscape and with others. Every step, every encounter, every shift in light becomes part of a larger composition—one where you don’t just observe the world, you become part of it.
A Week of Exploration & Creation
A Week of Exploration & Creation
Over one week in Tenerife, a small group of artists — photographers, storytellers, and seekers — gather to explore both the island and themselves.
Guided by Sébastien Zanella, you’ll move through volcanic landscapes, ocean cliffs, and quiet villages, using the camera as an excuse to see more deeply.
This is not only a workshop on photography or filmmaking ; it’s a journey toward clarity, connection, and expression.
A space to rediscover your voice, refine your craft, and share what truly moves you.
Each day blends practice and contemplation: creating in nature, exchanging ideas, and exploring how technique, intuition, and presence can merge into one language.
There will be moments of shooting and editing, of walking and silence, of sea and sunlight, of questions and discoveries.
On the final day, we gather around the work created, tracing the story of the week ; not just what was captured, but what was revealed.
From there, each participant leaves with a renewed sense of direction, and a place within the living community of Desillusion Utopia.
🥀
Each workshop is limited to 5 participants
- 2200 euros -
Every day ends with a feedback session at Sebastien Studio ; a space for reflection, dialogue, and shared vision.
You’ll discover his rhythm of life and creative process, gaining a deeper sense of how art can be lived, not just practiced.
Accommodation is not included, but a curated list of nearby Airbnb and small hotels will be provided, all within walking distance from Sébastien’s house.
Food is also not included, though the village offers many simple and affordable options to eat together or alone, always close to the ocean.
🥀
Your next journey begins here.
23-27 february 26
1 places left only
3-7 august 25
3 places left only
Want to join the next journey?
Applications are now open for the 2026 workshops in Tenerife.
When you walk the path — through a workshop or mentorship — you become part of the New New Adventurer Society.
From there, DESILLUSION UTOPIA opens its doors.
FAQs
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This workshop is open to photographers, filmmakers and creators of all levels. Whether you are a professional searching for new meaning or just beginning your creative path, this experience invites you to explore your own rhythm, to reconnect with what moves you, and to let the landscape shape your vision.
Each participant will be guided to create something deeply personal, born from presence, intuition and dialogue. -
This workshop welcomes photographers, filmmakers and creators of all levels.
Whether you are a professional searching for new meaning or at the beginning of your creative path, this experience invites you to find your own rhythm, to reconnect with what moves you, and to let the landscape shape your vision.Each participant is guided to create something deeply personal, born from presence, intuition and dialogue.
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Each day is structured around a creative journey, balancing exploration, movement, and reflection.
Morning: Immersion in nature—traversing volcanic deserts, diving into the ocean, or moving through landscapes, always with a photographic or cinematic approach.
Midday: Feedback sessions, discussions, and creative direction.
Afternoon: Editing, storytelling exercises, and refining personal projects.
Evening: Time for introspection, surfing, or other activities that nurture the mind and body.
Every element is designed to help you connect with your environment, push your artistic boundaries, and redefine your creative process.
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A camera (digital or film), a phone, or anything you feel comfortable creating with.
A notebook for thoughts, ideas, and reflections.
Comfortable clothing for outdoor exploration (you’ll be moving a lot).
Swimwear if you want to experience the ocean sessions.
An open mind—this is not just a workshop, it’s an exploration of self and art.
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Unlike traditional workshops focused solely on technique or commercial goals, this experience is about artistic exploration and storytelling through presence and movement.
You won’t just take photos — you’ll become part of the landscape, walking through it, feeling it, and allowing it to speak through you.
It’s not about following a formula, but about discovering your own path, your own rhythm, your own way of seeing. -
Beyond photography and filmmaking, this journey is about seeing the world differently. You will leave with:
A stronger artistic identity and a clearer sense of your creative direction.
A personal body of work created during the week.
A new way of moving through landscapes and interacting with your surroundings.
Connections with like-minded artists, sharing the same passion for exploration and storytelling.
Most importantly, you’ll leave with a renewed sense of creativity—one that extends far beyond the workshop.
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The workshop is based in Tenerife, Canary Islands, an environment that blends volcanic deserts, ancient mountains, and the Atlantic Ocean—a perfect backdrop for artistic exploration and creative immersion.
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The workshop is conducted in English and French. Participants from different backgrounds are welcome, as the experience is universal and visually driven.
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The workshop covers all creative sessions and experiences, but accommodation and meals are not included. However, recommendations for local stays and group gatherings will be provided.
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Absolutely. Surfing is not mandatory, but it is one of the many ways to explore movement and connection with nature. You’re free to experience it or focus on other aspects of the workshop.
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At the end of the experience, participants will leave with a personal body of work and a clearer vision of their artistic direction. You’ll also become part of a community of past participants, with the possibility of future collaborations and follow-up projects.
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The New New Adventurer Society is a living community of outsiders, artists, explorers, adventurers and creators —
those who refuse the ready-made world, and choose instead to invent the one they wish to live in.It’s not a club. It’s a way of moving through life.
A poetic alliance for those who seek meaning through action, beauty through presence, and connection through creation.To become a member, you must first go through an initiation — a workshop that opens the path.
Then, the Society opens its doors.As a member, you gain access to:
Desillusion UTOPIA — a monthly journal of inspiration, interviews and inner fire.
The Circle (WhatsApp group) — to stay connected with fellow members, share thoughts, questions, and sparks.
Expeditions & Secret Adventures — exclusive gatherings for those who want to go further, together.
The Annual Book — a collective publication where your work, your story, or your vision might be shared.
This is not a passive community.
It’s a place for those who live their poetry, who create instead of comment, and who walk the path — not because it’s easy, but because it’s real.To join – must live. 🥀
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You don’t sign up. You begin a journey.
To become a member of the New New Adventurer Society, you must first take part in one of our initiatory workshops — immersive, poetic experiences designed to reconnect you with your own path, vision, and inner fire.
This is your entry.
Not just into a community — but into a new way of living, seeing, and creating.Once the initiation is complete, you’re invited into the Society.
As a member, you receive:
Access to Desillusion UTOPIA, our monthly journal of inspiration and interviews.
A place in our private WhatsApp circle, to stay in touch with other adventurers, share work, thoughts and questions.
Invitations to secret expeditions and creative adventures, only for members.
The chance to be featured in our annual book, a printed archive of visions, moments and poetic acts from the Society.
This isn’t a badge.
It’s a fire you carry. A rhythm you choose to live by.To join – must live. 🥀