“From Paris with Love” a playful greeting or an artwork? It is both. Officially inaugurated on November 24 2018 the From Paris With Love installation stands near Porte de Saint-Ouen. The area got a new lease on life thanks to the tramway extension. This public art piece consists of two separate modules. They sit across from each other at the entrance of the Bichat Claude Bernard hospital.
Artist Bruno Peinado created this colorful work. He used iconic urban elements. These became whimsical, pastel-colored pieces. Imagine oversized flower bouquets. They are made of wind turbines, signposts and light boxes. The boxes flash messages in Morse code.
From Paris With Love embodies human warmth. It symbolizes a breath of life and the power of emotion. The artwork links the hospital to the outside world. It represents a beneficial synergy. The wind turbine blades are always moving. The light messages appear randomly. This mimics the constant activity of the hospital.
Bruno Peinado is from Montpellier. He has lived in Douarnenez for twenty-five years. He explores cultural mixing and graphic hybridization. Peinado reinvents collective images using his personal imagination. His installations have a sharp satirical humor. His playful works carry a gentle irony. They critique cultural hegemonies. Bruno Peinado questions the public’s relationship with contemporary cultural symbols. He suggests a postmodern re-appropriation. This can reinvent our symbolic environment.
The installation of From Paris With Love continues the artistic theme of the tramway. The City of Paris chose to continue placing public art along the T3 line. Locals helped select the artworks. Residents and users participated in the selection process. This collaboration with the community helped shape the installation.
Local residents and hospital staff chose Bruno Peinado. Citizens engaged to shape the city’s future. From Paris With Love is now part of Paris’s artistic heritage. The city ensures its upkeep. So next time you are near Porte de Saint-Ouen. Take a moment to appreciate From Paris With Love. It is a symbol of hope. It is a symbol of connection.