A rainbow in XXL format wraps the Arc de Triomphe (VIIIth), flies over part of the Place de l'Étoile and finds its fall in a small floating cloud, on which are inscribed the words "pride march". This video was posted this Thursday on the Instagram account Origiful, on the occasion of Pride month held during the month of June.
If the cars and passers-by who walk suggest a real structure, it is not. The rainbow was actually generated by 3D creation software. This trompe-l'oeil 2.0, bluffing realism, was made by the artist and owner of the Origiful account Ian Padgham, specialist in digital art. "I first filmed on location, then I created the rainbow on 3D software and integrated it into the video. It took me about 3 days," he explains.
"You spread fake news"
Quickly, the video of Ian Padgham is taken on social networks, without it being specified that it is a digital work. Confusion is created among Internet users. Some naively wonder why they didn't see anything as they passed the famous monument. "You spread fake news," replies a Twitter user, photo of the Arc de Triomphe without rainbow in support.
"When I publish my works on my account, people know what I do and know that these are works that do not exist in reality. The problem with social networks is that the videos are taken over by other accounts that do not say that it is 3D creation, "laments the artist. Ian Padgham is also concerned about the use of these modified images. "My goal is not to spread false information but to make surrealist art. On the other hand, with the development of artificial intelligence, we risk being flooded with false images in the future. »
Other Internet users, in posts tinged with homophobia, are offended by the presence of such a work. "Poor France, our beautiful Arc de Triomphe... ", publishes Marc Guyon, former Reconquest candidate in the legislative elections of 2022, before changing his mind.
Poor France, our beautiful Arc de Triomphe... 😥😭pic.twitter.com/J60bekGYgW
— Marc Guyon (@MarcGuyon) June 2, 2023
Homophobic reactions
Several Twitter accounts identified as close to the American far right are also taking to Twitter to voice their discontent with this creation. "This is an incredible lack of respect for fallen French soldiers. The Arc de Triomphe is a war memorial under which is the body of the unknown soldier. It is an abomination. " says one of them.
This is so unbelievably disrespectful to the fallen soldiers of France. The Arc de Triomphe is a war memorial with the body of the Unknown Soldier beneath it. This is an abomination. pic.twitter.com/pma2JM6paN
— Jack Cochran (@TheJackCochran) June 2, 2023
Reactions that regret Ian Padgham. "These comments show that LGBTQIA people are still not accepted and protected as they should," Padgham said. "I grew up in San Francisco, in the LGBTQIA+ community, I owe him a lot even though I'm married to a woman, so it was important for me to take action during Pride month," he adds. This month celebrates all over the world, throughout the month of June, the LGBT community. In Paris, the Pride March will be held on June 24, and before that the Pride of the suburbs will take place in Seine-Saint-Denis on June 3.
A few months earlier, another work by the artist had been talked about. In a video produced for the brand, Ian Padgham rolled giant Jacquemus bags through the streets of the capital.
