The After Babel, Translate exhibition is running at the Mucem from 14 December 2016 to 20 March 2017. Babel, a Hebrew word meaning ?confusion?, is in reference to the Tower of Babel, the origin of language diversity. But is this diversity a curse or an opportunity? It?s an opportunity, provided there is translation? Translation is not only a historical event, but also a contemporary challenge. Language diversity might often seem to be an obstacle to the emergence of a united society and a common political space, but the After Babel, Translate exhibition turns this proposition on its head and shows how translation, this bridging of differences, is a good model for today?s citizenship. Barbara Cassin, the renowned French philosopher and curator of the show, will take us through her exhibition step by step ? this is an opportunity not to miss!

In the show, Bilingual Document, artists and researchers present an unprecedented delve into the Mucem's vast archives (around a million works!) questioning the dual nature of the object in the Mucem collections: is it popular art or does it stem from scientific discourse? Is it aesthetic and poetic, or ethnological? How can the document be brought to life to reflect its bilingual nature? Can new art creations contribute to the revival of these stored pieces? The exhibition displays specific choices extracted from the Mucem's collections, as well as new oeuvres by mostly French and French/Portuguese artists, created in order to highlight these objects? value in our civilization. Sabrina Grassi, curator, will take us through her choices and explain her show. Sabrina Grassi is the former Director of the École Européenne Supérieure de l'Image (Angouleme-Poitiers). She now lives and works in Marseille. The show includes works by Jean-François Chougnet, Yo Barrada, Omar Berrada and M'barek Bouhchichi, Jean-Roch Bouiller, Marie-Charlotte Calafat, Erik Bullot, Sabrina Grassi, Yaël Kreplak, Franck Leibovici, Florent Molle, Uriel Orlow, Abril Padilla and Pascal Riviale.