Artists Frédéric Baron and Claire Kito pay tribute to love via an outdoor wall in Paris’ Jehan-Rictus Square. Aptly called the Wall of Love or the I Love You Wall (Le Mur Des Je T’aime), it features 612 lava tiles that repeat the adoring phrase “I love you” in 311 different languages. Included in this massive mix are the 192 languages of the United Nations.
Baron was inspired by the “silent passions” that people use to shout their love into the world, such as the couples who carve their initials into the bark of a tree. He intended the I Love You Wall to serve as a place for these people to meet, regardless of where they’re from.
To ensure inclusivity of language, Baron asked his multilingual neighbors as well as foreign embassies to write the phrase “I love you” into a notebook. By the time he was done, he had filled three large journals with it written 1,000 times. Baron then enlisted Kito, who practices Chinese calligraphy, to assemble them all in one 416-square-foot mural. The result is a destination where lovers can quietly share in these simple-yet-life-altering words.
Baron and Kito’s I Love You Wall is open to the public. It’s on view Monday through Friday starting at 8 AM.
Located in Paris, the I Love You Wall is a tribute to the international language of love.
It features “I love you” in 311 different languages!
I Love You Wall: Website
h/t: [Atlas Obscura]
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