Le Monument vivant de Biron

Le Monument vivant de Biron is an obelisk made of sandstone erected on a stepped base and fitted with multiple plaques bearing text. The inscriptions come from community members and are displayed on colored enamel panels.

The structure was inaugurated in 1996 as a replacement for an earlier war memorial from 1921 and was commissioned by the French government. It represents a shift from traditional commemorative monuments toward participatory installations.

The monument displays responses from local residents about their deepest values, collected by an artist and permanently incorporated into its structure. Visitors can read these personal statements while walking around the installation.

The memorial stands in the central square of the village and is easily accessible from all directions. Visitors can view the inscriptions from any angle without requiring special access or permission.

The installation continues to grow as a local couple regularly collects new responses from recent arrivals and young people coming of age in the community. This ongoing process turns it into a living document that evolves with the village itself.

Location: Biron

Inception: 1996

Creator: Jochen Gerz

Website: https://monumentsmorts.univ-lille.fr/monument/8733/wd

GPS coordinates: 44.63136,0.87167

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:08