Chuuuttt! by Jef Aerosol
Chuuuttt! is a monumental stencil mural adorning the gable end overlooking the Place de la Fontaine Stravinsky.
This square was made famous by its musical fountain, a dreamlike work by the Swiss artist Jean Tinguely and his wife, Niki de Saint Phalle. Located in the heart of the charming Beaubourg district, Chuuuttt! is on the side wall of a large building standing between the Saint-Merry Church and the Centre Pompidou.
Jean-François Perroy, aka Jef Aérosol, a pioneer of stencilling in street art, created Chuuuttt! in 2011 as part of the Mur4Mur project. This project aimed at promoting accessible contemporary art within the historic Parisian landscape.
Stencilling emerged as an ideal solution to reassure the residents of the neighbourhood who were concerned by the influx of unauthorised and unsightly graffiti that was defacing the wall and harming the beauty of Saint Phalle and the Tinguely fountain.
A monumental stencil
Chuuuttt! covers the entire height of the wall, blending harmoniously into its black and white surroundings. Only a red arrow, Jef Aérosol’s signature, adds a touch of colour.
Creating this masterpiece, 22 metres high and 14 metres wide, was a true feat, demanding both creativity and technical mastery! Composed of four strips, the stencil indeed covers an area of 350 square metres and required no fewer than 200 cans of spray paint.
To speed up the process, Jef enlisted the help of other renowned street artists, such as Blek le Rat, C215, Miss Tic, Kris Trappeniers, and Vhils. Together, they worked tirelessly, completing Chuuuttt! in less than three days, including the assembly and dismantling of the scaffolding.
This monumental stencil is a self-portrait, as Jef Aérosol bears a striking resemblance to Salvador Dalí. With his index finger pressed against his lips, he observes the passers-by and children playing near the fountains, silently urging them to listen with a soft Chuuuttt!
Jef Aérosol about Chuuuttt!
« Ce geste est une façon de dire: Ecoutez-vous les uns, les autres et une invitation à se poser cinq minutes, à tendre l’oreille à des choses que vous n’avez pas l’habitude d’entendre. La ville, ce ne sont pas seulement les sirènes de police et le bruit des moteurs. C’est aussi les cris des enfants, le chant des oiseaux et la mélodie des langues des touristes, nombreux aux abords du Centre Pompidou »
“This gesture is my way of saying, listen to each others and stop for five minutes, listen to things you do not usually hear. The city is not just the sound of police sirens and engines. This is also the cries of children, the birds singing and the melody of foreign languages, the languages of the many tourists visiting the Centre Pompidou “
Thus, follow Jef’s advice: stroll through the streets of this popular neighborhood and discover a myriad of lively squares and alleyways, lined with typically Parisian cafes and restaurants.
Chuuuttt! is indeed a stone’s throw from the Quartier de l’Horloge, Fontaine des Innocents, Les Halles and Saint-Eustache Church and the unusual sculpture Ecoute on its square.
Directions: 4th District – Square Igor Stravinsky
Metro: Hôtel-de-Ville on Lines 11/1 or Rambuteau on Line 11
Coordinates – Lat 48.859462 – Long 2.351536
