Changing our view of the suburbs? That’s what the Banlieues chériesexhibition invites us to do from April. Immerse yourself in these territories, stretch out your ears and open your eyes to apprehend their history(ies) through the prism of art.
An exhibition to dispel preconceived ideas about the suburbs
The suburbs are not what they seem! Stigmatized by clichés, reduced to preconceived ideas, the suburbs suffer from a lack of understanding that tarnishes their image and masks the diversity of territories that are rich and full of resources.
With Banlieues Chéries, the Musée de l’histoire de l’immigration will help us to break down this distorting mirror through which we are accustomed to seeing the suburbs. The exhibition will give visitors the opportunity to explore the cultural and artistic scenes of the suburbs, and to come up with new representations and narratives!
Banlieues chéries, for a different kind of suburban history!
From April onwards, the Musée de l’histoire de l’immigration will be hosting Banlieues chéries, an exhibition designed to take a fresh look at these territories, which live in the overwhelming shadow of the big cities. Two hundred items ranging from works of art (video, painting, installation…) to documents and testimonials will attempt to tell a different story of the suburbs, one that is more nuanced and faithful to its realities!
Ibrahim Meïté Sikely, Tête d’étoile, 2021 /Courtesy of Galerie Anne Barrault, Paris
This exploration of the suburbs will address a number of themes and issues that will help us decipher the challenges facing these dynamic, constantly-changing territories.
The evolution of these landscapes will be evoked in the light of the arrival of the train in the 19th century and the construction of large housing estates from the 60s to the 80s, as well as the daily lives of their residents, the emergence of numerous social struggles, citizen movements and the popularity of political currents.
Lastly, often described as “peripheral zones”, the suburbs are in fact “attractive zones”. Once appreciated by Impressionist painters, they now attract video artists, architects and artists of all kinds, who bear witness to the fabulous artistic ebullience shaking up the suburbs!
📍 Venue: 293, avenue Daumesnil, 75012 Paris
📆 Date: April 11 to August 17, 2025
🎟️ Price: €12 full price / €9 reduced price
Further information on the Banlieues chéries exhibition