Popular memorials
In the aftermath of the attacks, thousands of people spontaneously left objects and messages in front of the affected sites, as well as on the Place de la République. While such collective memorials had already been observed after attacks, those of 2015 are striking because of their unprecedented scale.

Collecting the ephemeral: the role of the museum
The effects of time and outdoor exhibition degrade objects and make these memorials ephemeral. Sanctified during the mourning period, the occupied spaces are gradually emptied and returned to their usual uses. To preserve the memory of these tributes that have marked the history of Paris and to pass them on to future generations, the musée Carnavalet, in collaboration with the Archives de Paris, has collected objects and messages from the various sites.

The power of urban art
Spontaneous and widely visible, street art was one of the forms of expression favored by artists in response to the attacks. Created in the heart of the affected neighborhoods, works of urban art honoured the memory of the victims in the weeks following the attacks. Some conveyed powerful messages that, widely disseminated and reused, were then found on numerous objects left where the attacks took place. They became the motto of a collective fight against terrorism as much as they were messages of hope. Some creations have been included in the museum’s collections, such as the panel painted by C215 or the preparatory drawings for the Grim Team’s frescoes.

_{Image : © Paris Musées / Musée Carnavalet - Histoire de Paris / Pierre Antoine}