Strasbourg · 2023 · Participatory project
Murals to reconcile a neighbourhood
Polygone district, with the company Les Passeurs
The Polygone district of Strasbourg is going through an extraordinary artistic transformation thanks to the collaboration between local artist Amoor and the street theatre company “Les Passeurs”. Two years after a tragic murder left deep scars in the relationships between the district’s various resident communities, Amoor and Les Passeurs are carrying out a special mission to bring residents back together, using art as a powerful means of communication.
A neighbourhood project
Amoor, a muralist from Strasbourg, and Les Passeurs, a street theatre company, were chosen to take part in the artistic project “Habitons ensemble le Polygone, Figures Communes”, initiated by the Lupovino association and community centre. Their combined talent and creativity played a central role in creating murals aimed at easing tensions and fostering mutual understanding within the district.
Over several weeks, Amoor and Les Passeurs carefully painted murals along the Polygone’s main street, under the watchful eyes of curious residents. The streets became canvases for artistic expression, highlighting the symbols of the district’s different communities, including Manouche, Spanish Roma and Yenish families.
Giving residents a voice
What truly sets Amoor and Les Passeurs’ work apart is their ability to give the residents of the Polygone a voice. Working with writer David Gallon, they wove sentences gathered from conversations with residents into their murals. These words became invaluable elements, expressing the hopes, aspirations and dreams of the people who live in the district.
Among these sentences, one in the Manouche language reads: “I live with children, parents and grandparents to keep growing.” This simple statement reflects the desire for peace, unity and harmonious coexistence in the Polygone.
Residents’ words
“I live with children, parents and grandparents to keep growing.”
A sentence in the Manouche language, gathered from Polygone residents and painted on the murals.
Art as mediation
Amoor and Les Passeurs embody the idea that art can transcend cultural and ethnic differences to create a universal human bond. Their art acts as a bridge between communities that have experienced years of tension. By creating a shared work, they hope the residents of the Polygone will feel more connected to one another.
Beyond the artistic creation itself, Amoor and Les Passeurs also acted as mediators by encouraging local children to take part in the painting process. This involvement of younger generations is crucial to building a more harmonious future for the Polygone.
A symbol for the future
Amoor and Les Passeurs’ project demonstrates the power of art as a tool for social transformation. It shows how committed artists can help heal old wounds, overcome prejudice, and pave the way towards peaceful, supportive coexistence.
The Polygone district of Strasbourg can look to the future with optimism, thanks to artists like Amoor and Les Passeurs who turn art into a vehicle for reconciliation and unity. Over time, these colourful murals will become not only works of art, but also symbols of the Polygone’s transformation and renewal.
This project is one of Amoor’s murals and public art commissions. His career is retraced in his biography.
