Commemorative exhibition to "Je suis Charlie" in the AAB gallery on January 2016.

 It was important for me to symbolically show my commitment with the spirit that came out from the « Je suis charlie » events. The artistic association I belong planned an exhibition to commemorate this spirit. Called « Je suis artist » (I am an Artist) it took place beginning January from the 8th to 17th. I also contributed to the organization of the show. Initially I thought I would present previous works realized in 2015, but the last events of the 13th November urged me to be more creative and present something completely new I had not done before.
So I decided to present 4 works. 3 panoramic bands based on street-art paintings  from locations directly involved in the dramatic events of November 2015 : a wall just beside the restaurant Cambodge based rue Aligre and fences installed around a bar located in the middle of place de la République.

As the walls and fences were quite long I could not use my « Traveling photo » technique. So I took several classical photos which were merged with Photoshop. Then in order to express my contribution I integrated my Panoroïds photos.

The generic title for these new panoramic photos was « Jean chante Paris» (John sings Paris- but there is a joke with the French verb "J'ENCHANTE" which means "I lay a spell on Paris") and each work was named after a song or poem celebrating Paris.

For me my photos are like writings and I consider that one of the missions of the artist is to « Sing his world around ». Along with the works we had to provide with few words as a commentary.  Mine was :

Etre artiste à Paris en 2015 s’est avéré difficile. Nous

représentons la liberté de création. Entre émotion

et information, notre contribution reste indispensable. Ma réponse

est une série de photos panoramiques intitulées « Jean chante Paris ».

Chaque photo est un chant du griot photographe que je suis. 

Being an artist in Paris in 2015 has been difficult. We represent creativity and freedom. Between emotion and information our contribution remains an obligation. My answer is a group of panoramic photos named « Jean chante Paris » (John sings Paris).  Each photo is a song from the photographic bard I am.

1) Paris sera toujours Paris. Paris will always be Paris.  (Music : Offenbach, French Cancan, variété, Bataclan..) Maurice  Chevalier, 20x90 cm

2) Paris j’ai deux Amours  (Paris I have two loves. (Paris historique et la photo) Baker, 20x90 cm

3) Feux (Lumière, flammes, bougies, fleurs, amour, mort, hommages) Aragon, 20x90 cm

Paris sera toujours Paris panoramic features a wall paintiong from the Place de la République that became emblamatic.It reproduces the Coat of Arms and Motto  of the city «  Fluctuat nec mergitur », a Latin phrase meaning "Tossed but not sunk".

"Paris sera toujours Paris" panoramic features a street-wall painting from the Place de la République that became emblematic.  To it I have added special a collection of Panoroïds representing the Eiffel Tower dancing specially lighted for the commemoration during two weeks.

27th of November, National Memorial Day for the events since the 13th of November and their victims.

Today, we were invited to present our national flag at the window to share this homage united. My window is my blog. In the last 15 days I have followed the different Parisian sites involved in the events. 

Rue Bichat, Bullit in the window of the Carillon restaurant.

The 130 deads and the 300 injured  came from 25 countries, average age of 30-35. They were spending time in restaurants, bars, a stadium and a rock concert. For certain terrorists Friday, is a day to pray, and to illustrate their choice of living they acted to force us to follow them. France has a history, and with Voltaire has chosen to resist to religion to support freedom for the citizen. For that reason France became politically symbolic and this explains the choice of Paris. For this same reason there is no point in trying to make a difference between « Je suis Charlie » and « Pray for Paris » events. The two terrorist attempts find their origin in the same ideology. 

Rue Fontaine au Roi, the pub.

The press has focused on the western way of life as being the objective of the terrorists. But we should not forget that the restaurant Comptoir Voltaire is located at the opposite side of the ward, they were not obliged to drive so far to find people drinking or eating outside. The Bataclan stays at the crossing of Boulevard Richard Lenoir and Boulevard Voltaire.
The name « Bataclan » finds its origin in a musical work (a « Chinoiserie », a comical fantasia of Jacques Offenbach). Offenbach father came from Germany and was Jewish. The restaurant La Belle Equipe is located, rue de Charonne, a place where the Jewish community is present. In Wikipedia they mention that the owners of the hall are Jewish, today it belongs to the group Bolloré, and I have no idea of the religion of the owner.

Proud to be Parisian, Rue Fontaine au Roi, the pub. 

Many journalists reported that the victims were the people of France and sometimes used the term « popular ». In the history of France the term Popular evokes the working classes of the crafts and industry. Living in the same place as the victims and after having looked to their profession, it would be more accurate to speak of the Parisian Bobo class, mostly they were employed, many worked in relation with arts and culture, and they came from different countries and religion. Many people came to Paris to build their professional life or have a good time. The places involved in the events were ‘In’ sites. I live just nearby, but my financial situation does not allow me to be out. This « Bobo » generation, is not always conscious that in their behaviour they are communal, they privileged technology, youth and the urban way of life. The people of the suburbs and the teens or seniors were not very present. This « Bobo » generation is the future of Paris.

A muslin women in a group of 8 sharing our emotion. In front of the Bataclan.

-       Having spent much time making photos I must add the following comments:
- After the Charlie’s events it was sometimes said among the Muslim community that what had happened was logical after the caricatures. This time, if the terrorists expected to create a splitting in the Muslim community they missed, on the contrary their testimonies were very present.

Indian family in front of the Bataclan.

- For the first time the Asiatic community was very present because the two restaurants were involved: Le petit Cambodge and a sushi restaurant. Many Buddhist testimonies were present.
- In the first days Paris and the Eiffel Tower were chosen as symbols for the event, and few flags were present, two weeks after flags or the use of the three national colours in the drawings are everywhere. I do not know how to interpret this change. Is it the expression of a rebirth of nationalism or the expression of a national unity?

A couple sharing their emotion at Place de la République.

 
- We should have a profound reflection about the impact of smartphones in our ordinary life. Why are these tools so present in such emotional and personal situations. Are we able to really directly feel the things, why are we obliged to take « souvenirs » at any moment for every purpose. The smart phones have found a unique role in our behaviours, they have changed our direct relation to emotion and memory.

- Today certain people consider they should not change their way of living.  I am not sure it should be the right reaction. We French and western people, have to conduct a major analyse to understand why certain of our young people have chosen this mortal way. The present western model focusing on an individual urban materialism, on communal approaches due to the technology, privileging youth when expectation of life increases, the individual interest against the state organisations excluding the intermediates. We have a lot to do !

All these elements explain why the impact was so strong in France and especially in the world. I wanted to share my feelings and thoughts with you. I have gathered many images and I am always looking for an editor because the use of panoramic photos in this case is uncommon.