AtaraxiaIf you’re not from Toulouse, you might not know what I’m talking about. Oli—yes, the same one from Bigflo & Oli—has created a temporary exhibition at the Abattoirs Museum in Toulouse. Let me explain.
A Legendary Exhibition
To say the least, when we first heard the news, we were eager to go. So, without wasting any time, we booked our tickets and headed to the museum the day after the exhibition opened. Even during an orange weather alert, we crossed all of Toulouse to finally arrive at the museum we know so well. Right at the entrance, we weren’t disappointed—huge photobooth-style photos were displayed on the ground and on the gate walls. Of course, the first one we noticed was of Big Flo and Oli. The Abattoirs in Toulouse is a well-known institution, even if you’re not an art lover—you’ve probably been there at least once with your school for a photo. Despite this, they still manage to surprise us, like with this exhibition featuring Oli. But even though, at the same time, another exhibition is running in partnership with the Château d’Eau collection in Toulouse, let’s focus on the Imaginary Museum.
Oli’s Head—Just How We Imagined It
Go down to level -1, and you’ll find yourself in the depths of Oli’s mind. Throughout the journey, you’ll be accompanied by graffiti on the walls featuring characters talking about Oli, art, and even the event itself. When you reach the bottom, you enter what I imagined to be Oli’s head. Here, you’ll find scenes from his childhood, video projections, and photos with his brother. Oli recreated Andy Warhol’s famous Marilyn but with his mother, Patricia. He’s put a piece of his heart and his life here, fully opening up to us. You’ll see the studio where he works and, even better, he challenges us with a half-filled glass of water balanced on the edge of a column.
As you continue your exploration, you’ll even encounter a kebab stand. Yes, you read that right—a kebab stand, not the dish, but a whole stand.
Oli Exposed
My favorite part of the exhibition is in the largest room at the bottom of the stairs. At first glance, it might not seem that intimate, but to me, it’s a very personal glimpse into the life of the Toulouse rapper. On the walls, you’ll find everything Oli loves, from an Eminem album to a Maradona jersey, to one of Bigflo & Oli’s diamond records, as well as an ironing board. It’s full of very intimate objects related to Oli’s tastes, life, and culture. In this same room, you can also admire the Olympic medal of Antoine Dupont, Toulouse’s favorite player and perhaps the favorite of all of France.
What moved me the most? A projection on a wall showing the shadow of a pianist, probably Nougaro, all behind an empty piano.
A Participatory Artwork
And if, during their concerts, Bigflo & Oli constantly repeat “The others are us,” that’s exactly what Oli represents in this exhibition. A whole wall of postcards where you can write whatever you want. The idea is simple: you write a postcard and leave with one. When you leave yours, you can pick any postcard to take home. The same goes for the photobooths. There are three free photobooths available, but once you’re done, you have three options: leave the photo for someone else to take, take a photo of someone else, or wait for your own photo. But remember, “the others are us,” so your photo won’t be printed until four sessions have passed. That means four people or four groups must take their photos before yours can be printed. If you’re lucky, like we were, your photo might come out, and you’ll get to take home an exceptional photobooth picture featuring Oli at the top, Lena Situation on his left, Antoine Dupont at the bottom right, and comedian Paul Mirabel on the bottom left.
Oli’s Imaginary Museum runs from December 5, 2024, to May 4, 2025, with special appearances from Oli, conferences, and activities related to rap. Here’s the website if you want to book your tickets online. We wish you a great journey through Oli’s Imaginary Museum!
