Migratory Notes

Migratory Notes is an immersive multisensory installation exploring Marseille as a historic port of arrival, encounter, and exchange. Drawing on the city’s long history as a cosmopolitan gateway, the work traces the intertwined journeys of people and goods, from West African plantations to the markets and kitchens of Marseille, while foregrounding the lived experiences of the African diaspora.

Combining sound, moving image, and scent, the installation creates a sensory landscape shaped by migration. Field recordings from Cameroonian farms intersect with the rhythms of Marseille’s streets, while olfactory elements (the mineral scent of the Mediterranean, sub-Saharan petrichor, and cooking spices) move through the space. Together, these elements challenge traditional hierarchies of perception, offering a visceral way of understanding how movement, labor, and memory are carried through everyday life. Through multiple narratives, the work reflects on shifting meanings of belonging, the tensions between departure and arrival, and the cultural transformations that unfold across generations.

The exhibition was accompanied by a public dinner led by Chef Vou, who developed a menu fusing African and French culinary traditions. Two craft beers – one brewed with uda (Negro pepper) and the other with uziza (Piper guineense) – were produced in collaboration with Brasserie du Castellet, extending the project’s exploration of migration into the realm of taste.

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