“It is the murmur of these people crossing the Mediterranean. The one we try not to hear”, observes Hippolyte. His drawings are a bottle thrown into the sea in an ocean of indifference. With other artists, he will testify in Paris until January 2025 as part of Escales solidaires. The opportunity to highlight the work carried out by SOS Méditerranée to save migrants trying to reach European coasts.
The time has come for withdrawal and barricaded borders. Every week, however, on frail skiffs, men, women and children attempt this journey. Despite the multiple administrative obstacles put in place by the local authorities, the NGO continues to intervene to help them. Not without difficulties.
“It is first and foremost a humanitarian question. We can't close our eyes.” explain Thérèse Guilbaud and Jérôme Boutain, two of the sailors on the ship chartered by SOS Méditerranée. Since February 2016, the NGO has rescued 41,172 migrants: men but also women and children. On the table at the Châtelet theater in Paris, Jérôme Boutain places two poor swimming vests recovered during one of the NGO's raids. “Some boarded with inner tubes. » Illusory protection in case of shipwreck.
To give a face to these sometimes tragic crossings, the NGO takes photographers on board at regular intervals. You can discover their work on the banks of the Seine in front of the Théâtre du Châtelet until January 7. On March 13, 2024, L’Ocean Viking was going to the aid of a boat. Only twenty-five people. This time, no overload. And for good reason, the others were dead “slowly, from hunger and cold. They made signs, screamed, cried.” Then slowly let go. Photographer Johanna de Tessieres, although experienced in the most extreme situations from North Kivu to Iraq, stops for a moment. The voice breaks. She apologizes. Recognizes that she also sometimes put down her camera. Out of modesty, to help. “On the stretchers, the survivors weigh nothing, they are so light! The weight of the soul and barely a little more”, says the text which accompanies one of his photos.
Ten years ago, the Italian navy operation ended Our Sea It helped rescue more than 150,000 people. Since then, Europe has tightened the rules, preferring to rely on the Libyan coast guard to carry out police and rescue work at sea. On board these ships financed by Europe, violence against migrants and ransom most often prevail over any other consideration. SOS Méditerranée denounces “Obstacles to rescue missions even though mortality has exploded in 2023 with at least 3,155 victims”.
A photo exhibition in Paris. It is in this context that Paris is hosting the Escales Solidaires from November 20 to January 7. On the banks of the Seine, opposite the Châtelet theater, you can discover an exhibition retracing the rescue operations thanks to the work of reporters. “At certain times, you have to know how to put your camera down,” explains Johanna de Tessieres, Belgian photographer specializing in migration issues.
Support evening at the Châtelet theater. It will be December 9th. As he did when he was director of the Avignon festival, Olivier Py, today at the head of the Théâtre du Châtelet, remains committed to supporting the action of SOS Méditerranée. This will again be the case on December 9 during an evening hosted by Charline Vanhoenacker and Waly Dia. Several musicians: Ballaké Sissoko, Zaho de Sagazan, Sandra Nkaké trio (ELLES), Raphaële Lannadère, Thomas de Pourquery as well as the designer Hippolyte and the actress Anna Mouglalis will participate in this evening. All profits will be donated to SOS Méditerranée.
At the MC93 theater in Bobigny. In June 2018, L’Aquarius wandered for ten days on rough seas, with 629 survivors on board, waiting for a political decision and a port to disembark. By meeting the crew and the survivors, Lucie Nicolas created a poignant story. From November 15 to 22 at MC93 in Bobigny.
Save our souls documentary film. Monday November 28 at 8 p.m. at the BPI Cinematheque at the Center Pompidou. A documentary film by director and photographer Jean-Baptiste Bonnet.
Exhibition at the Museum of Man. A non-compliant life jacket worn by a four-year-old child, a compass, objects entrusted by SOS Méditerranée to illustrate the exhibition that the Museum of Man is devoting to migrations from November 27 to June 8, 2025.
