Photo : Bpi
Tiny Lives, Lives at the Bpi
The Public Information Library offers a three-week program resonating with the 'Tiny Lives' exhibition at the Centre Pompidou at the Panthéon, in partnership with the Centre des Monuments nationaux.
Bibliothèque publique d'information (Paris 12th)
About
Conceived with artists Mehdi Meklat and Badroudine Saïd Abdallah, this program runs from November 4 to 22. It offers an ongoing installation featuring video-performances by Bouchra Khalili, Sara Sadik, and Redacted Cut, as well as an intimate podcast by Mehdi Ahoudig. In parallel, author Jane Sautière will be in residence to question the public about the meaning of success.
Born in 1992, Mehdi Meklat and Badroudine Saïd Abdallah are artists. They have written together since high school, inventing a shared language, from reportage (Quand il a fallu partir, ARTE, 2015 and Demain le feu, 2020) to novels and cinema (Les uns contre les autres, 2025). Since 2021, they have also led the artistic program Les Chichas de la pensée. Their first two novels, Burn out and Minute, were published by Éditions du Seuil. Their third novel, Jeune et ambitieux, has just been published by Éditions Tumulte.
Ongoing Program
- Brûle mes lettres – Installation and collective listening of the podcast Brûle mes lettres
Love letters written by a woman to her teenage sweetheart... Words forgotten and then rediscovered, years later, by their son, Mehdi. With Brûle mes lettres (2026), documentarian Mehdi Ahoudig exposes fragments of his family history in a podcast produced and broadcast by Arte Radio. For the first time, the documentary broadcast is accompanied by an exhibition of his parents' letters, like a direct plunge into intimate and family memory. - Khtobtogone by Sara Sadik, 2021
A strange world, between video game and self-narrative. With Khtobtogone (2021), Sara Sadik imagines a journey where desire, identity, and popular culture mingle. A video to be watched like entering another world: that of the imaginaries and dreams of a generation. - Speeches – Chapter 1 by Bouchra Khalili
In Mother Tongue (2012), the protagonists recite passages from political, literary, or poetic texts by Aimé Césaire, Abdelkrim Al Khattabi, Malcolm X, Mahmoud Darwish, Édouard Glissant, and Patrick Chamoiseau. They recite them from memory, facing the camera, in their mother tongues (Moroccan Arabic, Dari, Kabyle, Malinké, and Wolof). The people involved were found, explains Bouchra Khalili, through a mix of research and chance encounters, without casting, simply because they wanted to participate in the film. This questions the status of films (and those who take part in them), somewhere between performance, documentary revelation, and collaboration. - RNG Vol.1 and Vol.2 by Redacted Cut
Love, money, success... For fifteen minutes, a series of TikTok videos, directed and edited by artist Redacted Cut, invite ordinary, twisted, obsessive stories to the Bpi. Stories of tiny lives sublimated by these internet images, between confidences, humor, solitude, and dreams of grandeur. - What is succeeding? – Jane Sautière's Residency
Throughout this exceptional program, writer Jane Sautière will be based at the Bpi and will ask readers, visitors, and passersby a question: "What does it mean to make a success of your life?" A simple, dizzying question, to which everyone can respond with their own story, their sacrifices, or their desires. - Phrases read by Lyna Khoudri
Three to five times a day during Sunday, November 22, the voice of actress Lyna Khoudri will emerge in the library spaces and whisper phrases around the notion of "Tiny lives." From Annie Ernaux to Mafia K’1 Fry, these short texts, designed as breathers, will be broadcast amidst the library's regular announcements.
Meetings and workshops are also scheduled throughout the period: opening night, screening with director Claire Simon, fanzine writing workshop: learn more!
Our take on this event
Lose yourself in a deeply moving exploration of life stories through immersive installations and intimate audio experiences at the city's main library. From unearthed family secrets to the vibrant dreams of a modern generation, these powerful narratives invite you to reconsider the meaning of success and personal identity.
From November 4 to 22, 2026, the Bibliothèque publique d'information in the 12th arrondissement presents 'Vies minuscules, des vies à la Bpi', a multidisciplinary program curated with artists Mehdi Meklat and Badroudine Saïd Abdallah. Visitors can explore intimate video performances, podcasts, and literary residencies throughout the library. This event highlights ordinary stories and personal memories, offering a unique perspective on contemporary life. Access to the various installations is free, though some specific workshops and meetings require advance reservation. It is an opportunity to engage with themes of identity, social success, and personal history within the library's public spaces.
Curated by Mehdi Meklat and Badroudine Saïd Abdallah, 'Vies minuscules' occupies the Bibliothèque publique d'information from November 4 to 22, 2026. The program features continuous installations including Mehdi Ahoudig's personal podcast, visual works by Sara Sadik and Redacted Cut, and Bouchra Khalili’s 'Speeches' series. These pieces delve into collective memory, cultural roots, and the strange, obsessive narratives found in everyday digital life.
During this period, author Jane Sautière holds a residency at the library, inviting visitors to reflect on the meaning of personal success. On Sunday, November 22, the library experience is further enriched by sound installations featuring the voice of actress Lyna Khoudri, who will share short literary texts throughout the day. The event also includes a diverse schedule of workshops, film screenings with director Claire Simon, and an opening evening. While the main installations are free to access, participation in specific workshops and organized meetings requires prior reservation.
