Transferred Statues, “Repatriated” Statues? Monuments and Their Memory, Algeria-France, 19th–21st Centuries

A study day organized by Julie Marquet, ULCO – HLLI, and Annick Defontaine, Maison Européenne des Sciences de l'Homme et de la Société (MESHS) - Lille Nord de France.

The event will take place in a hybrid format, both in person and online.

9:30 AM
Introduction – Julie Marquet, historian, Associate Professor at the Université du Littoral Côte d’Opale

Morning Session: The Statue of Sergeant Blandan, from Boufarik to Nancy

Presentation of the history and memory of the monument and the current projects surrounding it. Screening of excerpts from the film Mange ton orange et tais-toi by Malek Kellou. With contributions from:

• Étienne Augris, author, and history-geography teacher
• Malek Kellou, documentary filmmaker
• Dorothée Myriam Kellou, author, journalist, and filmmaker
• Kenza Safraoui, heritage curator in charge of contemporary collections at the Palais des Ducs de Lorraine – Musée Lorrain, Nancy
• Bertrand Tillier, art historian, Professor at Université Paris 1 – Panthéon Sorbonne

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Afternoon Session: The Fate of Statues – Transfers, Encasements, and Oblivion

2:00 PM – Traces, Presence, and Absence of Monuments

• The War Memorial of Oran Relocated to Lyon: Between National History and Local Politics – Sophie-Anne Leterrier, historian
• Palimpsest Monuments: A Writing Through Erasure – Amina Menia, artist (via Zoom)

3:30 PM – New Pedestals, New Memories? How Movement Transforms Monuments

• Before/After: An Art Historical Approach to Repatriated Monuments – Claire Garcia, PhD in Contemporary Art History
• Should the Statue of the Duke of Orléans Fall? French Colonial Monuments in the Era of Rhodes Must Fall – Jennifer Sessions, historian, Associate Professor, Virginia University (via Zoom)

4:45 PM – Collective Discussion and Closing Remarks