Coram Populo, In the presence of the people 
Production

A collective reflection on anonymous denunciations and what history teaches us about what we are.

Fascinated by archives, French-Swiss author and artist Karelle Ménine delved into the judicial records of Toulouse's chief magistrates, les capitouls, made up of hundreds of thousands of trial records in small canvas bags containing thousands of voices. The voices of the people. She found in them placards, anonymous bills of accusation that were posted in the streets or on the doors of the person accused. A secular, popular form of voicing allegations, sometimes vulgar or threatening, very close to what can be read every day on social media. They inspired the artist to imagine a project in two parts: an exhibition exploring the archives, a shared resource to which we rarely have access; and in public spaces on the walls of the courthouse, around 300 contemporary placards, handmade by high-schoolers. In workshops, the artist asked them about issues of style and substance, and the meaning of anonymous accusations. The placards they came up with may be denunciations not accusations, with insulting content disappearing in favor of aesthetic concerns. A collective reflection on anonymous denunciations and what history tells us about what we are.

With the Swiss Cultural Center. On Tour in Toulouse. 
Project supported by Occitanie Livre & Lecture.
In partnership with Le Palais de Justice and Haute-Garonne County Council
-  the regional archives, students at isdaT and École Condé, and students of Saint-Sernin high school. 
Many thanks to Gilbert Cousteaux for his precious help.