Here stands a mural by the talented French street artist Shuck One. This PA_497 Mural is not just paint on a wall. It is a tribute to Black history. Shuck One is a Black graffiti artist from Guadeloupe. He honors Black figures who shaped France’s history.
The PA_497 Mural is part of the “Paris Noir” exhibition. It retraces the influence of Black artists in France. This exhibition covers the years 1950 to 2000. The Pompidou Center highlights 150 artists of African descent. Their works have often been unseen in France before. Shuck One offers his contemporary insights as one of five chosen artists.
Shuck One stated that he wanted to invoke the memory of Black figures. These figures created “Black Paris”. He feels they were pioneers in art and intellect. The PA_497 Mural is his way of honoring them.
Shuck One calls himself an activist who became an artist. Growing up in Guadeloupe in the 1970s shaped him. Arriving in Paris in the 1980s, he became a street art pioneer. He draws inspiration from the Negritude movement. This movement fought colonialism, racism, and Eurocentrism.
The PA_497 Mural titled “Regeneration” measures four meters high and ten meters long. It portrays key moments in Black history. These moments are shown through paintings and collages. Maps of Paris, archives, and photos form part of the artwork.
The “Tirailleurs Senegalais” are the mural’s starting point. This was a colonial infantry corps in the French army. They fought in both World Wars. The mural also depicts the May 1967 riots in Guadeloupe. This event led to a massacre. Historians still question the number of victims. The BUMIDOM is another feature. This French agency organized migration from overseas departments. From 1963 to 1981, 170000 people moved to mainland France. Historians now see it as post-colonial discrimination.
The PA_497 Mural displays portraits of Black figures. Politicians, writers, and activists are among them. Josephine Baker is one example. Aime Cesaire is also shown. He was a poet and Negritude movement founder. Angela Davis is another figure in the mural.
Less known names are also included in the PA_497 Mural. Paulette Nardal was a writer and activist. Eugenie Eboue was the first Black woman in France’s National Assembly. Gerty Archimede was the second. Maryse Conde, a novelist from Guadeloupe, is another.
Shuck One wants to revive these forgotten figures. He also aims to pass on their history to the next generation. He carefully studied the collage of photos and archive documents. Activism is important. It is good to talk about the community. Yet, knowing its history is also vital.
The “Paris Noir” exhibition runs from March 19 to June 30. It is one of the last before the Pompidou Center closes for five years of renovations. The PA_497 Mural stands as a powerful reminder. It honors the past and inspires the future.