The ‘Night Lights’ project was born from the desire to evoke fundamental gestures, which happen all over the world, often without words. They may come about in moments of great frailty, or instances of wonder, sometimes in places which we wouldn’t want to find ourselves in.

These are the gestures of men and women who watch over us. They take care of the sick, the old, the wounded, the dying, and the newly born.

They are nurses, doctors, stretcher-bearers, physiotherapists, and other roles which sometimes have no name.

They are all around us, day and night, when the earth trembles or the world is falling apart, but also when the sun rises. Sometimes we are asked if this job is just too difficult.

I haven’t found a simple answer to that question.

There is a word in German that cannot really be translated, ‘sehnsucht’. It is a word that conveys a feeling of vital impulse, mixed with intimacy, tenderness, sadness and strength.

Perhaps the people in this profession have a bit of all of that.

Sometimes it’s about giving a patient a slice of apple with their medicine to help it do down in the morning, or sometimes it’s daring to laugh when things are difficult. Daring to cry because you’re moved, or caressing skin that hasn’t been touched for a long time.

This is done in every language, but is rarely spoken about.

The images presented here by MAPS photographers show us what is happening today as it has been since the beginning of time. Where women and men have taken care of the most fragile among us.