If the historic Panier district remains a must for travelers who love excursions on foot, another sector of the city is worth a detour: the Cours Julien (or Cours Ju for short).
This sector, vibrant day and night, is the scene of a very informative guided tour on the theme of urban art (the street art, as they say around here). You should know that Cours Julien is considered the largest district dedicated to street art in France. Several renowned artists have put their stamp on it with spray paint, mosaic, glued paper or even judiciously arranged Lego blocks.
PHOTO STÉPHANIE MORIN, THE PRESS
Kevin Ciccarelli offers guided tours on the theme of urban art at Cours Julien.
Kevin Ciccarelli is part of the team of guides hired by the Marseille Tourist, Leisure and Convention Office (OTLCM), which oversees the guided tours of this district with a decidedly artistic streak.
“Le Cours Ju is a neighborhood where social diversity is very present. People of all classes rub shoulders on a daily basis. Tourists are not as numerous as elsewhere. »
Here, street art is not expressed through vast mural works, as is the case in Montreal or Buenos Aires. The artists rather adopt spontaneous approaches, mixing styles and techniques, which causes a perpetual change of the decor.
That’s the whole point of this neighborhood. There are fewer monumental works, but we perhaps gain in authenticity.
Kevin Ciccarelli, tour guide
In Marseille, many artists are fond of tags or graffiti, in the American fashion of the mid-1980s. References to rap abound, notably to the group Fonky Family and its leader, Le Rat Luciano. The ephemeral works multiply and spread everywhere on the walls and even in the underground parking lots.
This less institutionalized approach (which is also illegal, but tolerated) does not prevent certain big names in the genre from coming to express themselves on the walls of the Cours Julien.
PHOTO STÉPHANIE MORIN, THE PRESS
The artist Invader created this mosaic to the glory of pastis!
Think of Invader, a French street artist who adds a touch of humor wherever he goes with his mosaics, often inspired by the video game that gave him his name, Space Invaders. “He has created works in over 170 cities,” says Kevin Ciccarelli. Marseille has no less than 200, all across the city. » As a gift for the Marseille city, the artist stuck on a wall a tribute to the local drink: pastis!
Works by Obey, the organization that painted the famous poster Hope by Barack Obama, can also be seen here. The same goes for the well-respected Manyoly (a local artist) and Mahn Kloix, who is more into large mural works.
PHOTO STÉPHANIE MORIN, THE PRESS
A mural by Mahn Kloix displayed in this building on Cours Julien.
“The Cours Ju is a vast free museum where you can come at any time to be inspired…” says Kevin Ciccarelli. “The stairs leading to Cours Ju always have works of art on the risers, works which also change often. » It is the gateway to this art which never ceases to metamorphose according to the inspirations of these artists who have chosen the walls to express themselves.