"Frankly, I have lived these last days as a kind of little deconfinement before the time," laughs Kongo. Like Banksy at the Southampton hospital, the urban artist produced two works for the Parisian hospital in Lariboisière. The first work takes place on a music kiosk in the middle of the courtyard, surrounded by trees and lawns. A haven of peace for the artist who produced this work to help caregivers.

While finishing the installation of another work, this time on the stained glass windows of the hospital chapel, Kongo answered questions from 20 Minutes .

How did you come to make these two works for the Lariboisière hospital?

Everything happened very quickly. Once I had this idea, we had to find a point of contact. But as soon as I got the authorization, everything was very fluid. The goal was to say thank you to the caregivers, who are finally brought to light. I wanted to make a concrete civic gesture, based on what I can do.

Will these works be sold for the benefit of the hospital, like that which Banksy at the Southampton hospital?

No, these are perennial works. I wanted to do something bright and colorful to bring something to the daily lives of doctors and caregivers, but also of patients. For the moment I only have super positive feedback, everyone says thank you, while at the start, it is I who want to say thank you, everyone.

What works will be sold for the benefit of the hospital?

I will edit digigraphies which will go on sale for 500 euros, and the profits of which will go to the hospital. Like everyone, I heard about the lack of means, materials ... At one point, at home, I told myself that I could do better, and more, than just clapping at the windows at 8 p.m. to support the staff hospital.

Is it also a way for you to escape confinement?

A little ... I worked at the heart of hospital life, which is paradoxically a very quiet place, where people pass and rest. Me, anyway, I am a little confined all year round, in my workshop ... So this confinement, I experienced it quite well.

Your exposure to the great arch of La Défense still had to be stopped.

Yes, that's true, but strangely enough, I was nosy because I had designed a virtual version of the exhibition. So she was able to continue living, even during the closure.

Much has been said about the very difficult situation of caregivers during the coronavirus crisis. What about visual artists like you?

It will be very difficult for some, economically. Perhaps we will have to redesign our world, our work. Fortunately we have other tools to continue to disseminate our works. We saw it with the initiatives of street artists, on Instagram for example. But at one point, nothing can replace physical contact. I'm afraid we're losing the human part. But rather than worry, I think we should ask ourselves questions. Fear does not avoid the danger.

Caregivers fear that after the crisis, we fall into the same trap with a lack of chronic means for the hospital. Do you also fear a return to the same difficulties as before the crisis in the art world?

I do not know. I believe that at first we will have very beautiful flowers growing this spring ... Works that will grow in all cities of the world. We all need to get out, to open up again.

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  • Confinement
  • Paris
  • Art
  • Hospital
  • Coronavirus
  • Street art
  • Culture