15 November 1931, at
the heart of the Bois de Vincennes in Paris, before nearly 400 000
people, the colors were brought for the last time at the top of a
short-lived bronze tower of 82 meters. The Colonial Exhibition ended on
a note of the extent of his triumph. In six months, no fewer than 8
million visitors had undertaken "around the world in one day" touted by
the organisers. They had discovered the river boats of
Dahomey, Bali dancers, musicians and actors from Antilles and
Madagascar. They had surveyed the dozens of flats, before the
jubilee-size reproductions of the Angkor Wat temple or a palace of
Timbuktu. They had filled theaters, concerts and cafes, observed until
midnight fountains light shows and fireworks. A popular success coupled
with a financial success: 33 million francs profit of 320 million
francs budget. The operation marked also sustained the South-East of
Paris: the subway was extended boulevards field expanded, wood
processing. For its first major temporary exhibition, National City's
history of immigration has chosen to revive this unique scene.
Installed since September 2007 at the Palais de la porte
Dorée, the last vestige of the famous exhibition, the City
presents, in all its brutality, this celebration of the colonial work.
Barely entry crossed, a world map painted by Henri Milleret
and set the flag of the armed forces, sets the scene: "It is with 76
900 men that France ensures peace and blessings of civilization to its
60 million people. " Friezes, frescoes, paintings, sculptures, photos,
posters, postcards, newspapers, costumes and models, often leaving for
the first time reserves Musée du quai Branly, sustain
recovery. Behind the scene, the wings, and behind the
theatre, the real world that the exhibition "1931, foreigners during
the Colonial Exhibition" began to appear. A World weakened by the crash
of 1929. A world of tensions and first crackles. Indeed, 1931 marks the
climax of the foreign presence in France. They are then 2.8 million, of
which 800 000 Italians, or 6.9% of the metropolitan population:
children, workers, peasants. Their presence has been imposed before,
during and after the First World War, and massive silent. At work,
first of all, but also in leisure, housing, culture. Colonization,
Immigration: the purpose of the exhibition is precisely in
this effort to resonate both phenomena. There, in these lands overseas,
which combines French, especially foreigners and "indigenous" private
rights. Here, where workers live, non-workers and refugees. The
so-called civilizing mission glorified by the works of art and
sumptuous shots on one side. Images and objects of everyday life, on
the other, starting with this mosaic of identity papers faces
anonymous, unknown, among whom is a young Spanish without moustaches
named Salvador Dali. Immigration work, immigration policy and even
immigration transit to the USA or South America: the exhibition is to
embody the complexity of the phenomenon. In mines, French and
foreigners are fighting side by side, but elsewhere are increasing
manifestations of xenophobia or anti-Semitic. The press book by his
usual and effective testimony. More edifying, the City presents the
work "scientific" Mauco Georges and his thesis on the degree of
assimilation of different "races". Ten years later, the Vichy
regime will make use of it.
For the moment we are still in 1931. In the corridors of wood,
elephants and camels dazzle a small boy named Francois Cavanna. The
writer delivers a sound testimony. A few hundred yards in the 12th
arrondissement, a building continues its everyday life. A large
installation recreates the apartments, floor by floor. From top to
bottom: a French cook, a labourer Algerian, an Italian bricklayer, a
laundress, a hotel employee and an employee of the gas, all french, a
Chinese merchant street, a manoeuvre, Chinese still. At his
inauguration last year, the City of the history of immigration had been
criticized for not linking immigration to colonial and its
consequences. Eight months later, she found the best possible response:
a beautiful exhibition.
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1931, foreigners during the Colonial Exhibition." Until September 7.
National City's history of immigration, 293 Avenue Daumesnil,
Paris-12e. Tel. : 01-53-59-58-60.
