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Icons
The Icons are a summary of how to squat in London;
providing some practical informations, through the traditional techniques of sacred christian imagery seemed logical to me.
Being born in a deeply catholic family from a rather privileged area of Paris,
I was always exasperated by the expectation to live in a large flat and perpetuate these exclusive attitudes of keeping people with needs out.
It was my hope to subvert the rigidity of these expectations by using this style, where pieces are created in accordance with such strict canons.
Already a dissent.
Squat.
London, April 2020
5 icons, tempera on wood with gold leaf
The icons were carried to the 'churches' were they belong: several squats in London, and photographed.
You can see these photographs clicking on LEGAL WARNING.
Printed as banners the icons were then used during the Protest "Make the connection" organized by Focus E15, an association fighting against overcrowded bad social housing, and empty buildings in social estates. They were carried from the Brimstone House (an overcrowded hostel) to one of the empty buildings of the Carpenters Estate, on which they were hung, as an appeal to squat the empty buildings in London and help one another. Participants to the protest could leave with a poster of one of the icons to carry back home.
Click on MAKE THE CONNECTION to watch videos of the whole story.
