Le Pont: Marseille Exhibition Explores Migration Through Art

In 2013, Marseille hosted 'Le pont,' an exhibition across the Musée d'art contemporain and other venues from May 25 to October 20, as part of Marseille-Provence 2013. Curated around the theme of migration, the show leveraged Marseille's identity as a major European port with a vibrant art scene. The exhibition opened with a juxtaposition of two films: Lázló Moholy-Nagy's 'Impressionen vom alten marseiller Hafen (Vieux-Port)' (1929) and Helen Levitt's 'In the street' (1948), connecting Marseille to New York through street life. Two threads guided the show: ideological freedom and individual experience. Emblematic works included Danh Vo's 'We the People' (2010-2013), replicas of the Statue of Liberty fragments, and Adrian Paci's sculptural self-portrait 'Home to Go' (2001), depicting a man carrying a roof on his back. The exhibition addressed modernist architecture's failure, border crossings, and exodus, immersing visitors in a universal collective memory. On the breakwater, Kader Attia's public commission 'Les Terrasses' (2013) provided a viewing and resting point reminiscent of Mediterranean rooftop terraces, fostering exchange. The review was written by Audrey Illouz.