C'est dur Ici

Created in residency at Cite Internationale des Arts for Paris des vi(ll)es

C'est Dur Ici  is inspired by the stark contrast between Château Rouge, Boulevard Barbès, and the central, touristic heart of Paris. It interrogates the image of an ideal Paris, a global city, rich in lifestyle, beauty, and cultural freedom and the discovered inconsistencies between the experience of the city centre and the areas surrounding the Seine.

Encountering the vibrant, self-organised, stuggling community  in Château Rouge highlighted how the ideals of hospitality appear conditional and that participation in the “ideal world city” seems unevenly distributed. From the vantage point of Château Rouge, Paris can feel less like a welcoming capital and more like a space governed by exclusion and survival.

C’est dur ici questions who truly has access to the city’s hospitality: Why do many immigrant communities remain on the margins, geographically and socially? Why is their presence often transient in a city that prides itself on openness? This exploration is informed by a quote from the late South African musician Hugh Masekela, who once said: "South Africa is a free country, but freedom, my friend, is to be able to enjoy life. To enjoy life you will need: Money, Peace, Security, Recreation, Entertainment, Education and Comfort."

Performance

Paris de vi(ll)es – Paris, 2025