A look back at the "XXL Wrestling Figures" exhibition at the 88th Fête de l'Humanité

The 88th edition of the Fête de l'Humanité, held from September 16 to 18, 2023, in Essonne for the second consecutive year, marked the beginning of the cultural season in France. More than 430,000 visitors flocked to celebrate music, culture, and solidarity and to participate in political debates.

The Art Weapon association, in partnership with United Souls, took advantage of this occasion to present the "Figures of Struggle XXL" exhibition, a landmark collaboration with United Souls. Installed at the entrances to the Village Monde, this monumental exhibition highlighted portraits of iconic figures who shaped the history of civil rights struggles.

Among these figures, festival-goers were able to recognize Nina Simone, an icon of music and the civil rights struggle, whose portrait was strategically placed near the Nina Simone-Zébrock stage.

Other personalities, such as Amílcar Cabral, an anti-colonial strategist, Oum Kalthoum, a voice for Arab unity and identity, Cheikh Anta Diop, a revolutionary historian, Maya Angelou, a poet and civil rights activist, Fela Kuti, the king of Afrobeat, Marielle Franco, an icon of the Afro-Brazilian queer struggle, and James Baldwin, a mediator and advanced conscience for civil rights, were also honored.

The "Figures of Struggle XXL" exhibition allowed visitors to immerse themselves in the world of these committed personalities, recalling their fierce fight for civil rights and social justice. By reflecting their legacy, it helped to reaffirm the importance of activism in our current society. The Fête de l'Humanité, seeking to enrich the presence of visual arts, found in Art Weapon an indispensable partner to realize this ambition. Festival-goers frequently used the portraits as landmarks: "I'm in front of James Baldwin," "Meet me next to Nina Simone," or "The stand is right across from Cheikh Anta Diop."

The integration of this exhibition into the Fête de l'Humanité strengthened the link between art and political engagement, demonstrating that art is a powerful vector for conveying essential social and political messages.

If you would like to host the "Figures of Struggle XXL" exhibition in your festival or city, please do not hesitate to contact the Art Weapon association. This association is responsible for the distribution of the exhibition, which is accompanied by biographical texts written by historian Azmat Boukari-Yabara.