Called “Living Together”, the exhibition by photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand located at Place de la Concorde in Paris was ransacked last night during the celebrations of PSG’s qualification for the Champions League final. This after a draw obtained in Munich against Bayern (1-1) following a spectacular victory eight days earlier at the Parc des Princes (5-4).
In the digital pages of Le Parisien, this Thursday, the artist confides his emotion. “ I was warned last night and when I saw all that, it was a bit sad. I arrived at 5:30 a.m.… » On social networks, the person concerned then shares the extent of the damage: “ This is how I discovered my exhibition on living together on Place de la Concorde. Obviously the PSG supporters loved the exhibition…
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Of the 180 photos from “ 90 photo studios deployed across the country to photograph hundreds of French people, giving birth to a vast collective portrait of contemporary France », around a hundred were vandalized. “ The authors jumped on it… They are still visible, they will be bandaged, but they are still there. What is important is that the meaning of the exhibition is still there », breathes Yann Arthus-Bertrand.
Saving solidarity
His call for solidarity to restore the exhibition was heard. “ There were 30 or 40 people who arrived straight away to give us a hand. In my opinion, we will reach 300 given the calls we receive. People are a little shocked to see this, but above all they want to help usreports the photographer, moved. In the end, I was crying that night and now I’m very happy. It is a beautiful moment of solidarity and the very meaning of this exhibition is all the stronger. »
Nearly 130 arrests – and more than 90 police custody – were observed in the Paris metropolitan area last night on the sidelines of the “festivities”. 34 injured were reported, including 23 members of the police.
