THE ALEPPO MACHINE
Cécile Hennion

La révolution ou l’élan d’un vol d’hirondelles © Reem Yassouf

From October 8 to November 3

Based on the book “The thread of our shattered lives” by Cécile Hennion, published by Editions Anne Carrière
Exhibition curators: Cécile Hennion and Marie Sumalla (Tipping Expected)

The war which began in Syria in March 2011 has been the most heavily documented in the entire history of conflict. Young revolutionaries recast as “citizen journalists” took incredible risks to bear witness to the brutal repressive measures inflicted on the Syrian population. This constant stream of images in real time failed to trigger the wave of international solidarity the young people had been expecting. The torrent of ultra-violent audiovisual material, supplied by videos from armed groups of all persuasions, stifled civilians’ speech, aspirations, suffering and resistance, totally obliterating the human dimensions of the war. The story being told of the conflict was reduced to military and geopolitical explanations while the existence of the millions of people thrown into exile was almost invisible.
Men, women and children have been pounded by the machinery of the war. The eastern part of the city of Aleppo was destroyed and its inhabitants evacuated in the winter of 2016, but its fate is not very different from that of other Syrian cities. The destruction of this city, large, rich and cosmopolitan, took on a universal nature. It was one of the most ancient cities in the world still to be inhabited, a cradle of world heritage which has now vanished. The aim of this exhibition, taking Aleppo as an example, is to restore the place of individuals – whether willing or compelled to participate in the tragedy – and to highlight their specific experiences in this infernal machine. To place them at the heart of reflection on the war through spoken witness accounts, painting, sculpture, young children’s drawings, sound and images. To get an idea of the day-to-day existence of men and women during the war, showing the role of families, the fates of children and even love stories across the front lines. Rather than using raw documentation, the exhibition draws on the many different vehicles of expression the memory can use, complete of course with gaps, fantasies and dreams.

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Espace d’art actuel Le Radar
24, rue des Cuisiniers
Open Wednesday through Sunday 2.30 pm to 6.30 pm and Saturday 2 pm to 7 pm.
Exceptionally open Tuesday October 8^th 2.30 pm to 6.30pm, Friday October 11^th 2.30 pm to 7 pm
and Saturday October 12^th 10 am to 7 pm
Free Admission

Cécile Hennion will be present at the book fair on Saturday, October 12 to present her book Le fil de nos vies brisées