2022argenteuilCité Champagnefrance
la cité des bulles
Our first project in Argenteuil: fifteen Point of View workshops in the hills above the town, an exhibition in three spots around the neighborhood, a website, and a film.
- formats
- mediums
- place
- argenteuil · Cité Champagne
- partners
- Le Colporteur, the Cité Champagne branch of the Maison de quartier des Coteaux
Le Valdocco - public presentation
- Multi-site exhibition (public space, Le Colporteur, Maison de quartier des Coteaux), website, and film.
with
Abdelmalek, Alicia, Alison, Amir, Assia, Fatima, Fatir, Féryel, Gwennaëlle, Hadjila, Ilyana, Ismaël, Julien, Karima, Kerell, Lilya, Lola, Margot, Maria, Mohamed, Mohammed, Nana, Naïla, Noheila, Noussayba, Ryan, Saloua, Stéphanie, Tasnim, Timothé
For two months, some twenty children aged 8 to 13 from Le Colporteur and small groups of 15- to 18-year-olds supported by Le Valdocco explored the Cité Champagne on foot: sensory maps, film photography, street interviews, video, and then creating an exhibition.
The exhibition went up in public space, in large format, in three spots around the neighborhood, at Le Colporteur, and at the Maison de quartier des Coteaux. A website, “La Cité des bulles,” and a film made with the children carry the residency further.
mapping
the neighborhood map
On the presentation panel, the children drew their neighborhood by hand: the Cité Champagne, Roussillon and Bordelais, the shops at the foot of the building, the Colporteur, the Valdocco, the Street, the school, the eco-grazing field and its sheep, and the hill where you can see Paris and La Défense.
“We live in the Cité Champagne, which looks a bit like a banana.”
“The park and the sheep, which we find soothing (when we’re big we’ll be able to ride them).”
“We like the hill for walks and picnics.”
excerpts from the text written together for the exhibition
collective map: the children of the Colporteur
the exhibition
la cité des bulles, wall by wall
Six banners hung in the neighborhood, two photographs on each, with the children’s titles and words; then, at the Colporteur, four framed prints.
wall 01outside
L’école incroyable de Nana
I like the view in this photo. You can see a bit of a tree, some bushes and a school.
La nature de Roussillon
You can see trees, branches, leaves, the Roussillon building and the little green hut.
wall 02outside
La vue d’Argenteuil
I chose this photo because it shows the Coteaux and really shows the neighborhood. You can see Argenteuil, the neighborhood and even a bit of Paris and La Défense.
L’arbre de Champagne
I chose this photo because there’s a reference to Naruto. It’s the tree that looks like a sakura.
wall 03outside
Les adultes s’amusent à la bergerie
You can see grown-ups laughing as they feed the goats and ewes. It reminds us that we all become children again at times. Especially when nature fills us with wonder.
Enfants et grands jeux
A group of children plays in Roussillon under the watchful eye of the grown-ups. I like this photo because the tight framing on the girls and where the other people stand make the shot come alive.
wall 04outside
Bergerie de Roussillon
You can see the sheepfold hut with the name Carmen written on it.
Le jour du Cheval
One day I was horse riding in a park. At one point you could go into the sheep pen, and I fell in. One sheep stepped on my leg and the other licked my neck.
wall 05outside
Bulle
Champagne under a golden blanket. The light reflects and bursts across the surface of the photo.
Automne
You can see branches and leaves. I like the yellow and green leaves, and the sun shining through.
wall 06outside
Rénovation du city
You can see the Champagne sports field. It’s very worn and very old. There are holes and it’s really not good for playing soccer. That has consequences. Several people have been hurt because it’s falling apart. I think the surface, the goals and the basketball hoops need to be replaced.
Rénovation du Parc
The slide is worn out. There are broken benches, the ground is damaged. I want to change the play equipment for the little ones because it’s dangerous. They can get hurt because it’s broken. The benches should be replaced too. I think the town hall isn’t making an effort for young people.
wall 07inside
La frappe
Voir le monde de la cabane
Le quartier à l’envers
La vue de la cité Champagne
photographs and captions: the children of the Colporteur and the young people of the Cité Champagne
the film
The full film, with sound, subtitled in French, Portuguese, English, and Spanish, in the mOst cinema.
the exhibition
The presentation panel and six banners for the walls of the Cité Champagne, then the prints hung at the Colporteur: the hand-drawn map, the photographs, their titles and the children’s words.
