Above is a photo of one of many stenciled phrases lining the streets of Paris's 12th district. It reads, "hunting immigrants" and "Sarko, are you mad?" (a rebuke that finishes each of the graffitied texts). Other phrases blame Sarkozy for sponsoring racist and sexist policies. Next to the texts, the authors sign : "the pink panthers, transgaylesbians on the offensive". The pink panthers is a gay activist group based in Montreal. Sarkozy is against gay marriage.
Nicolas Sarkozy is by far the most contested candidate in this year's French presidential election. His involvement with last years' riots and his close relation with an increasingly aggressive police force scare many and have secured him a reputation as a racist and a fascist. His current movement to expel illegal immigrants is especially upsetting. Stories of the expulsion of children and consequent separation from their friends and family, as well as the arrests of the very poor seeking humanitarian aid, enrage many.
Voters are wary that this is only the beginning of a long lineage of militant tactics. Though Sarkozy seems to be the only candidate to speak lucidly about combatting unemployment and rejuvenating the economy, people ask, "at what price?". The aftertaste of injustice may just be strong enough to keep him from winning.
The first round of French presidential elections are just two days away and all 12 candidates are avidly advertising here in the streets of Paris.... and people are reacting. Marker mustaches, clown noses, gum, spray paint stencils, campaign posters from past elections... the electorate have found numerous creative means to express their thoughts about these candidates, their policies and their fallacies, the state of the nation and hopes for the future.
After roaming the Paris streets by day and by night, I've amassed quite a number of photos of political posters and of the different interventions made on them. Click here.
If you're unhappy with your country, why not just start a new one? This seems to be the logic underlying "Grow your Own", Peter Coffins' exhibition about micronations currently on show at the Palais de Tokyo (Paris). On display are the flags and other paraphanalia (coins, paper money, badges, ribbons, national anthems, constitutions...) of forty-something micronations, there defined as "countries (often without territories) conceived by artists, eccentrics, malcontents or egocentrics"*. One can find a brief history and statement of intent of each nation as well. One micronation which I find particularly interesting, but which was not included in the exhibition, is the Gay and Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea Islands (GLK). Here, one can imagine to find a rainbow striped flag dancing to voices wailing the kingdom's national anthem, "I am what I am" by Gloria Gaynor, the authors of the GLK's official information site write with a wink. But underneath this "gay" humor, you understand that the reason that compelled the gay community to start their sovereign independent nation is far from a joke. The GLK was established in an act of political protest by gay rights activists in 2004. Due to recurring violence suffered by the gay community in Australia, and law amendments not recognizing homosexual marriage, the gay community decided to raise it's rainbow flag in the uninhabited islands off of the continent's east coast and demand independence from the Australian Monarchy (by declaring war). Since the continent ignored the threat, independence was granted by default. * information on the exhibition "Grow your Own" and a downloadable pdf on the histories of the micronations featured in the show can be found here ** information on the Gay and Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea Islands can be found here and their blog is here (thanks for the heads up, Nick)
Here are two visuals that I found interesting... The first image is an ad for a lubricant, the second is the cover of the french magazine WAD (We Are Different). Here the human body is treated plastically, in a way that is at the same time seductive yet cold and impersonal. These images are aligned with a trend started about a decade ago, which treats the body in an impersonal way to expose the passion we have for skin, through plastic surgery, piercings, scars, and skin implants. - hadrien
Matt Harding, a 30-year-old video-game programmer from Connecticut, has been gaining popularity on You Tube for his unique travel videos... sponsored by Stride long-lasting gum, Matt crosses the 7 continents... dancing! A poetic gesture. Check it out :
Enigmatic and provocative - a blank page seems to be an invitation for public discourse. And everyone seems eager to speak up... especially with elections coming up in a few weeks... Left : Don't be afraid "to vote!!!, but not for sarko!!, for = Arlette Laguiller, the fake..." Don't be afraid "to smile, to love..." Right : tag = Hector Guimard= who is aparently the art nouveau artist that designed the famous Paris metro (response to Hadrien's comment). Don't be afraid "to live, to laugh"...
While dining with my dad as he passed through Paris, we happened across this bottle whose label is translated into braille! We were both intrigued by the incentive, as it's rare to find braille on packaging. But, why aren't all labels non-voyant friendly? Upon investigation, we discovered that the use of braille is the incentive of the shipper, M. Chapoutier. There is a statement on his website explaining why : "Braille has been present since 1996 on all M. Chapoutier labels. Far from being anecdotic, this symbol draws its origin from the very history of the Hermitage vineyard.Maurice Monier de La Sizeranne, owner of the plot of the Hermitage, la Sizeranne, is also the inventor of the first version of abbreviated Braille. The trademark pays tribute to this man but also expresses the desire to reach out to and include all people with sight-impairments, lovers of good wines." Good wine and good incentive. Definitely worth the risk of smuggling it out of the restaurant!
Above is a photo of one of many stenciled phrases lining the streets of Paris's 12th district. It reads, "hunting immigrants" and "Sarko, are you mad?" (a rebuke that finishes each of the graffitied texts). Other phrases blame Sarkozy for sponsoring racist and sexist policies. Next to the texts, the authors sign : "the pink panthers, transgaylesbians on the offensive". The pink panthers is a gay activist group based in Montreal. Sarkozy is against gay marriage.
