14-18 Allies forever

An exhibition commemorating the First World War

The exhibition “1914-1918” is part of a range of events held across many countries commemorating the Great War. Presented around the world, the exhibition will be on display at the Alliance Française in Melbourne from 24 April to 27 November 2015. The Exhibition consists of several posters with incorporated "QR codes" enabling smartphone and tablet users to access a wide selection of archives (texts, pictures, sound, videoand 3D objects) commented in English, French, German and Spanish.

A chronological account, "1914-1918" recounts the experience and personal stories of war throughout the different continents involved. This fragmentation will take visitors on a journey covering:

• The diversity of frontlines: although most commonly represented in the battles in Northern France, populations also came together in the Eastern front where Australian, French, English and Serbians all find themselves in Gallipoli.
• The diversity of experiences: including that of the colonies ruled by the blood tax system (Guadeloupe, Martinique, New Caledonia, Madagascar), who travelled to the much revered mother country for the very first time,  to be hit by a violent reality.
• The diversity of perceptions between the frontline and at home. We are told the story of societies at war, and the impact on the civilian populations who share in the war effort (e.g. filling the gaps left in industry by those departed to the frontline) or the daily life of occupied countries like Belgium and Poland.

Interview with Anaïs Kien, historian, documentary filmmaker and scientific curator of the exhibition.

Among the many initiatives the centenary of the Great War gave rise to, what is special about the "1914-1918" exhibition?

"Our aim was simple: Given that the exhibition is intended to be shown around the world, and that the digital format can overcome language barriers, we have sought to portray how the Great War was, strictly speaking, a global conflict. (...) It resumed, extended or changed the course of of multiple conflicts: the Balkan wars, the Mexican-American War or the colonial wars (...) The Great War not only brought down four empires (Ottoman, Russian, German, Austro Hungarian): its effects rippled across the globe, even reaching the neutral countries."

The project was conducted in partnership with the Editions Gallimard and the École Normale Supérieure for the content writing and the scientific management. It was produced with the support of the National Audio-visual Institute (INA), the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE) and Cellules, a multimedia design studio.