In partnership with Brisbane Powerhouse, Alliance Française de Brisbane brought the globally acclaimed "Inside Out" project, created by the renowned French street artist JR, to our city. We were thrilled to present this unique opportunity to celebrate art, culture, and the vibrant Francophone community in Brisbane!
The "Inside Out" project is a global art initiative that transforms personal messages into powerful art. Created by JR after winning the
TED Prize in 2011, this project empowers communities worldwide to stand up for what they believe in and spark local change through public
art installations.
Over half a million people in more than 150 countries have participated, addressing topics such as diversity, feminism, racism, climate
change, education, and art.
Alliances Françaises across the globe participated in Inside Out. For our global Action "Les visages de la Francophonie" (Faces of the
French-speaking world), we captured the portraits of people in different cities and countries to highlight the diversity of the
French-speaking world.
Each participating Alliance created their own unique installation in their community, but together, our Actions create a giant mosaic
that celebrates the people who make up our global and multicultural community.
We took portraits of local French speakers, including students and staff of Alliance Française de Brisbane, community members,
extending out to Brisbane's diverse French-speaking groups and communities.
All portraits are displayed on the wall at Alliance Française's centre in West End.
A selection of portraits was installed along the esplanade of Brisbane Powerhouse. The visual celebration coincided with a special
event featuring Franjo, a French stand-up comedian, enhancing the cultural experience and engagement.
A selection of portraits from Brisbane were included in the installation at the Quai d'Orsay and the facade of the Théâtre de l'Alliance
Française in Paris. The installation by the Fondation des Alliances Françaises coincided with the celebrations of the 2024 Journées
européennes du patrimoine (European Heritage Days).
Alliance Françaises from around the world all came together to create a giant mosaic of global French speakers.
Click to view enlarged photos.
Click to view enlarged photos.
This project gave the French-speaking community of Brisbane the opportunity to be part of a global initiative, connecting us with cities and communities around the world through the universal language of art. We came together to make "Les Visages de la Francophonie" a reality and show the world the beautiful, diverse faces of the Francophone community in Brisbane.
Many thanks to everyone who participated in this project by having their portrait taken, generously donating to help cover the costs,
or volunteering their time and energy to paste the portraits. Thank you for supporting the arts and cultural diversity in our city.
This could not have happened without all of you!
To go further into JR's artistic world, check out the film Faces Places, screening for free at the Australian Cinémathèque at GOMA on 11 December. JR teams up with iconic French New Wave filmmaker Agnès Varda to make a documentary of their journey across rural France. More info on the film and screening here.
