Exposition " 504 ", MUCEM

Exposition " 504 ", MUCEM

504, Mohamed EL Khatib

📍 MUCEM, Marseille

▪️ iDzia setup : sound, light, video

Exposition " 504 ", MUCEM

Mohamed El Khatib is the invited artist at the Mucem for the 2023 season, where he invites us to revisit a contemporary chapter of Mediterranean history. With his installation Renault 12, he pays tribute to the thousands of Maghrebian families who, between the 1970s and 90s, traveled every summer through France and Spain by car, before boarding ferries that took them to the Maghreb, their lands of origin. This journey, both physical and emotional, marked entire generations of migrants who have shaped modern Mediterranean identity.

El Khatib's Renault 12 installation is not just a re-enactment but a living homage—a way of honoring these personal and collective odysseys. To bring this project to life, the artist envisioned a performance titled 504, which serves as both a reinterpretation and exploration of what returning to one's roots means, and how this act of return continues to resonate within the collective memory of Mediterranean populations.

The return to Ithaca, part of the founding myths tied to the Mediterranean, is a recurring theme in migration stories and reunions with the ancestral land. To explore this motif, Mohamed El Khatib invites the residents of Marseille to participate in a unique experience aboard the legendary Peugeot 504, an iconic vehicle that, like the Renault 12, is part of the everyday life of many migrant families. This symbolic journey serves to reconsider the theme of returning to one's homeland as an intangible heritage that shapes Mediterranean identities. Through this return to roots, the artist hopes to foster a deeper understanding of the invisible but powerful bonds that unite the different cultures of the region.

To celebrate these mechanical and sentimental journeys, the artist has envisioned a multidisciplinary approach, blending film, theatrical happenings, and concerts. Each element of this immersive experience allows for a deep dive into the world of Mediterranean migration—its challenges and celebrations—offering a fresh perspective on realities that are sometimes invisible or forgotten.

The Mucem, the Museum of Civilizations of Europe and the Mediterranean, continues to play a key role in offering a platform to artists like Mohamed El Khatib, who question our relationship with history, migration, and identity. In addition to permanent exhibitions, the museum regularly hosts temporary events that enrich the artistic and social discourse. We are accustomed to intervening within this framework for installations, soirées, and events in light or sound, thereby enhancing the cultural experience at the Mucem.

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