URBAN IDENTITES ON DISPLAY

EXPLORING TRANSCULTURAL NARRATIVES THROUGH IMAGE WALLS IN FRENCH AFRICAN NEIGHBORHOODS 

The project explores image walls within shops and semi-public spaces both in Château Rouge-Goutte d’Or, Paris, and in Wazemmes-Moulins, Lille- two vibrant neighbourhoods steeped in rich historical Afro and Maghreb French legacies. It focuses on constructing meanings through an analysis of the vernacular uses and practices seen in these spaces. Documenting the urban present, the work aims to contribute to a broader understanding and appreciation of diverse visual cultures in contemporary French society.

Through photographs, videos, and on-site conversations, the project portrays how these image walls not only serve as aesthetic backdrops but also function as potent visual signifiers, delineating transcultural identities. Conformed by image migrations and affective practices, these images contribute to the reshaping of cultural preservation.

Building upon the fieldwork already carried in Château Rouge - Goutte d’Or, “Urban Identities on Display” expands on the nuanced role played by popular images in the construction and showcase of post-colonial identities. In such diasporic urban contexts, the project embraces transcultural capital, delves into references that transcend geographical and temporal boundaries, and celebrates collective iconographic belonging.