For the very first time in France, every dimension of Hip-Hop culture will be exhibited at the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris (The Arab World Institute), from 28 April to 26 July 2015.

Since its genesis, Hip-Hop has acted as a radical, subversive and unclassifiable genre as well as an artistic medium of social and political expressions for young people. Its adoption within Arab countries was initially an underground phenomenon that quickly echoed a growing desire for dignity and freedom, mainly thanks to the use of web and social networks.

The recent Arab Spring riots used Hip-Hop, in the diversity of its forms, as a consciousness-raiser, for the very first time in this part of the world. The movement has thus become part of the great history of a now universal style.

The aim of this exhibition is to trace the history of Hip-Hop culture, from its birth in the United States in the 1970s, through to its reappropriation in France in the 1980s, until its latest developments in the streets of the revolutionary Arab Spring uprisings.

L’institut du Monde Arabe will open its spaces to those who embody this global phenomenon, in many forms. About a hundred historical works by American, French and and artists from the Arab world will be deployed alongside archival documents, in a single stage design set over 1100 m2.

Crossing historical, geographical and artistic fields, original works of graffiti artists such as JonOne, Evol, Jay One, Meen One or Yazan One will be created in situ.

An original soundtrack especially produced by Thierry Planelle will guide visitors through the exhibition. Two concerts will be held on 19 and 20 June, in partnership with the Paris Hip-Hop Festival. Finally, a “wall of free expression” will be installed on the front square of the Institute, open to everyone to “graffiti” it freely.