This winter, come and admire C215' s urban and committed works in a French institution in Paris. From February 1 to 25, 2023, the FrenchNational Assembly will welcome the urban artist from the Paris region, best known for his incredible stencils, for a brand-new exhibition entitled " Slava Ukraini " ("Glory to Ukraine" in Ukrainian). To be seen free of charge (reservation required on the National Assembly website), this installation invites street art enthusiasts to discover C215 's remarkable work in Ukraine in March and April 2022.
Shortly after the start of the Russian invasion, several street artists decided to create urban artworks in Paris and elsewhere, in support of the Ukraine. Among them was Christian Guémy, better known under the pseudonym C215. The urban artist chose to create a huge fresco on a building in the capital's 13th arrondissement. During the project, the street artist met representatives of the Ukrainian embassy and a spokesman for the"I Stand for Ukraine" association. C215 was then invited to take his work a step further. The urban artist decided to travel to Kiev, Jytomyr and Lviv to create works in support of the country, which has been invaded by Russia since February 24, 2022.
" My project was to go and make portraits of children in the rubble, because I felt that the juxtaposition of children's innocence with the material horror of war and the surrounding desolation could, on an artistic level, speak louder than certain speeches or journalistic photos ", explains C215 in a press release.
The " Slava Ukraini " exhibition, to be seen in the National Assembly's party gallery - usually closed to the public - is a unique opportunity to discover C215 's work produced on site. Visitors can admire a dozen monumental photo prints. These photos, taken by C215 himself as well as by AFP photographers, bear witness to the violence of the bombardments in Ukraine.
The pictures show cities in ruins, with the faces of children and women in the Ukrainian colors in the foreground. There's also this beautiful work by Christian Guémy in support of Ukrainian couples separated by war and exile.
The " Slava Ukraini " exhibition also features some of the artist's original works, such as this splendid fresco of Eugène Delacroix's famous painting,"La Liberté guidant le peuple". In this reinterpretation by C215, the woman of the people waves the Ukrainian flag.
Engaging, these photographs and original works are also extremely poignant. C215's frescoes are a way of re-establishing the rights of civilizations and replying to barbarism with art. Yaël Braun-Pivet, President of the French National Assembly, has therefore decided to exhibit this committed art in a highly symbolic location in the capital from February 1 to 25, 2023.
Through this unique installation, Christian Guémy aims to continue helping Ukraine. A country to which he has decided to commit himself by putting art at the forefront. And C215 has no intention of stopping there. One of his dreams is to return to Ukraine to create frescoes in the liberated cities in the east of the country.
Join us at the National Assembly from February 1 to 25, 2023, to discover C215 's incredible work in Ukraine in the spring of 2022. The street artist will be on site every Friday (February 3, 10, 17 and 24). The exhibition is free of charge, but don't forget to register in advance if you want to take advantage of this beautiful installation.
Dates and Opening Time
From February 1, 2023 to February 25, 2023
Location
Assemblée Nationale - Palais Bourbon
35 Quai d'Orsay
75007 Paris 7
Prices
Free
Official website
www2.assemblee-nationale.fr
Booking
www.billetweb.fr
More information
Free admission - reservations required on the Assemblée nationale website