abondoned supermarket |

On August 12, 2010, French graffiti artists Lek and Sowat found an abandoned supermarket of 430,000sq. ft in the north of Paris. For a year, in the greatest of secrets they invited forty French graffiti artists to collaborate and create an illegal graffiti Mausoleum.

As the monument is not accessible for safety reasons, Lek and Sowat recreated a few murals and installations in an abandoned apartment to share their experience with the public .

During the two years, they discovered traces of life from squatters that left in a rush. For the exhibition, the artists brought back toys, letters and objects as a tribute to the families living in the Mausolee.

An installation made of found signage on site, staff instructions and reports reminds of the golden days of the supermarket as key role to the community.

The opening was also the occasion to celebrate the release of the book (available here) and a video retracing all the visual process of this adventure.

The stop motion video made of 8000 pictures is now visible online

More info on the project and participating artists at mausolee.net

Imagine an abandoned four storey supermarket in the North of Paris occupied by squatters, then deserted again. On August 12, 2010, French graffiti artists Lek (RAW crew) and Sowat (DMV) discovered the place much to their delight.

For a year, in the greatest of secrets, both artists continuously wandered in this 430,000 sq ft monument to paint murals and organize an illegal artistic residency. They invited forty French graffiti artists to collaborate, from the first to the last generation of the graffiti movement. Together they built a Mausolee, a temple dedicated to their disappearing underground culture. There’s always been a constant battle between street art and graffiti, and this project clearly puts graffiti back on.

On 12 April Lek and Sowat will share their experience through an installation and video. Advance copies of the book documenting the entire visual process will also be available prior to the official release.

Due to the nature of the place, very few people have seen it in person. After crossing a train rack, going through a narrow corridor full of rubbish and climbing a 13 ft high metal gate with spikes, the access is by no mean easy. Traces of previous occupants are still visible: abandoned burnt cars, variety of objets scattered accross the four floors, as well as remains of the supermarket signage. Leveraging found material in-situ such as cling film, surreal installations and murals adorn the building.