"1001 Briques": A Mural Installation Celebrating Invisible Talents in Tunis
In the old medina of Tunis, a mural installation titled "1001 Briques" has been inaugurated, highlighting the talents of "invisible" creators, including art students, people with disabilities, and school dropouts.
Led by Swiss artist Anne Francey, who is married to a Tunisian, the project took shape over the course of a year through workshops that culminated in a large bas-relief made of sculpted and painted clay bricks, reimagining the urban landscape.
The artwork now adorns a square in the medina of the Tunisian capital, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Francey, 68, states that the main creators of the work are individuals on the fringes of society, who are often ignored and neglected.
Despite the challenges, the project mobilized a wide range of 550 participants, including art professionals, students, and members of the AGIM (General Association of Motor Disabled Individuals), an association for people with motor disabilities.
Mohamed Boulila, a trainer at the association, said that everyone who contributed to the project left a personal touch.
During a workshop, Boulila, who lives with a disability himself, declared that disability is not an obstacle to asserting oneself in society.
Samia Souid, a long-time teacher at AGIM, stated that the project had a positive impact on young people, and that children who cannot speak were able to express their feelings and ideas through the project.
Each group of creators imagined a metaphorical city, with AGIM participants focusing on a city of challenges, producing sculptures reminiscent of contemporary art.
Supported by a Swiss foundation, the project used clay bricks due to their availability and widespread use in Tunisian construction.
The "1001 Briques" installation is a testament to the power of art to bring people together and celebrate the talents of those often overlooked.