La Courneuve - Journee Destruction Creation and Gilles Clément

One of the most interesting events this weekend will be held in not so far from Paris (15 minutes from Gare du Nord) but far from the chi-chi Arrondissements.   La Courneuve near Aubervilliers is one of the most deprived areas of outer Paris and saw serious disturbances during the 2005 rioting.  Many of the residents are immigrants and the area gained notoriety with the "4000" (la cité des 4000) which referred to the huge social housing projects from the 1980's which is where the residents are still housed.

This Sunday, artist and resident of La Courneuve Monte Laster is organising "Journee Destruction Creation" which will reveal the history of one of the tower block buildings which was demolished in June 2004.  As part of his "Abundance" project residents were filmed when the tower was still in existence, interviewed about life there and then on the day of the actual destruction.  Monte has lived close by for 11 years  in a hidden enclave, the 12th century "Moulin Fayvon". More about this amazing place later.

On Sunday those local residents and others will return to the site of the tower and see the screening of the film, participate in debates and eat the food that has been brought by each family to be shared with the others.

The world famous landscape artist Gilles Clément, will lead a talk and walk through the amazing untapped plant growth (La Friche) which rose from the rubble of the building after it was razed to the ground.

Gilles Clément was born in 1943 in La Creuse. He obtained his diploma as "Paysagiste" from the École nationale supérieure du paysage de Versailles where he now teaches.  His work with landscapes and plants morphed firmly into art as his concepts are enriched by a literary and theoretical dimesion.  Some of the projects that he is most well known for are the gardens at Quai Branly and Parc André Citroen in the 15th arrond. 

Right now he is not very chuffed about our new Président and has stopped all projects, on-going and new, in France.

Comments

[King Negrito]

The problem is that, if you go there, they may steal your digital camera , right ? :)

[susie]

as if anyone would be crazy enough to try and wrestle a camera from a bear!