Krzysztof Wodiczko’s mapping at Festival in Lille

City dwellers, those with a roof over their heads, often see homeless people only in passing—nameless and voiceless, blending into the background of the urban landscape. Many avoid contact with the homeless out of fear—fear of acknowledging that they too could one day find themselves in a similar situation. Homeless individuals, however, cannot afford such distance or indifference. For the sake of survival, they must look closely and consciously—not only at their own difficult circumstances but also at the attitudes of those around them: indifferent, and at times even hostile. They also see the entire system that excludes them.

In this reality, the homeless—whether they realize it or not—become the “eye” of the city: they see more and more deeply than others.
Thanks to their experience and sensitivity, and having access to means of expression, many want to speak out and share what they see—clearly, openly, and in their own words.

In this video mapping project, the façade of the Voix du Nord building becomes a symbolic mask—monumental and public. Through it, painful experiences can be voiced more easily: as both private individuals and as part of the urban space.

Let us listen to what homeless people see, how they perceive the city, and how—in their eyes—they are seen or ignored.

Directed by: Krzysztof Wodiczko, in collaboration with Gilles Paté
Voices: Mado, Sébastien, Stella, Steven
Cinematography: Gilles Paté
Sound: Gauthier Cauvin
Editing: Gilles Paté
Image Stabilization: Patrick Grandi