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Urban Art and Fascinating Pieces of the French Urban Landscape

Every time I’m in Europe, I enjoy taking pictures of political stickers and graffiti left on street furniture after major protests. This year, I was expecting tons of witty slogans and puns following the months-long demonstrations against the labour code reform. But… nada. Well, almost nothing. I showed up too late. Not all windows that were smashed during the protests were replaced but the city was cleaned up and offending stickers and graffiti were presumably removed.

Et merde!

I still need my hit of urban art, so I turned to signs, close-ups of these objects we see but barely register and yes, the few graffiti I did find.

It’s amazing how much these urban objects can tell about a culture. So today, no people… just ubiquitous and unsung pieces of the French urban landscape.

Coffee cup reflection at the train station
Coffee cup reflection at the train station
Nantes sign in French and Breton language
Nantes sign in French and Breton language
"It's ridiculous!" tag on a city sign explaining the ongoing construction work at Commerce
“It’s ridiculous!” tag on a city sign explaining the ongoing construction work at Commerce
"Are you happy?" graffiti
“Are you happy?” graffiti
Two red, one green light in the middle
Two red, one green light in the middle
"Smile, you're alive" graffiti
“Smile, you’re alive” graffiti
Fancy doors
Fancy doors
"Stop and end"
“Stop and end”
French flag reflection
French flag reflection
"National security alert system in effect" (Plan Vigipirate)
“National security alert system in effect” (Plan Vigipirate)
"The only solution: a revolution"
“The only solution: a revolution”
Amazingly, this company has been in business since... 1748
Amazingly, this company has been in business since… 1748
Funny art
Funny art
"State and police: fucking die!"
“State and police: fucking die!”
Naked woman, bas-relief on a bridge
Naked woman, bas-relief on a bridge
Sign in Saint-Michel along the main national road, "forbidden to horses"
Sign in Saint-Michel along the main national road, “forbidden to horses”
"We have strong grievances"
“We have strong grievances”
Half open and half closed, "Back at 6 p.m."
Half open and half closed, “Back at 6 p.m.”
Price of bread in one of Nantes' bakery
Price of bread in one of Nantes’ bakery
Broken ATM
Broken ATM
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Zhu

French woman in English Canada.

Exploring the world with my camera since 1999, translating sentences for a living, writing stories that may or may not get attention.

Firm believer that nobody is normal... and it’s better this way.

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