"The Festival of Lights is an incredible playground for creators"

You’ve been part in the Festival of Lights for more than ten years now. What memory stands out from your first creations in Lyon?

Moetu: The very first image we saw projected – the still image of the Anooki on the façade of Saint-Paul railway station during the test night – felt monumental to us! We were used to working on digital projects for computer screens or on museum installations. Saint-Paul railway station is huge in comparison!
And above all, it was the first time we saw an audience react, marvel and laugh at our work. That night, we realised we needed to go further, and make the public sing and dance with the Anooki.
And we did just that two years later on the façade of the Lyon Opera house.

What has become of the Anooki, your iconic characters?
David: Lyon proved to be an extraordinary springboard for the Anooki. Since their appearance on Saint-Paul railway station in 2012, they’ve travelled the world through shows and monumental statues in urban spaces. We’ve presented them in Dubai, Sharjah, Singapore, Osaka, Kyiv, Toruń, Hong Kong, Rennes, Blois, Doha, London, Grand Rapids (US) and Avignon. Their universal language and their message resonate with incredibly diverse audiences across the globe.

Grand Mix au Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon was a huge hit in Lyon and then went on to tour internationally. How did you build on the 2022 success in other festivals, in France or abroad?
David: Grand Mix certainly made a big splash and we adapted the concept using different paintings, different music and different buildings in Eindhoven, Amsterdam, Murten (Switzerland), Adelaide (Australia), Toruń (Poland), Paris (for Paris 2024), Lens and Lille.What’s more, we’re presenting the Megamix from the Louvre-Lens at the Némo International Biennale of Digital Arts, from 11 October 2025 to 11 January 2026. 
Moetu: We’re also currently working with paintings from the Museums of Avignon to create a Grand Mix on the legendary Palais des Papes, to be presented on 19, 20, 21 and 22 December.
David: The audience enjoys a wonderfully surprising and uplifting musical experience. There’s something thrilling – for us and for them –about letting a museum collection break free and come alive to global hits. Grand Mix is a fantastic tool for cultural outreach, as it showcases historic paintings in a way that’s accessible, engaging and fun. It’s an opportunity for audiences who may not be used to visiting museums to connect with these works… And perhaps feel more inclined to step through museum doors to explore the originals. 
 

Lyon has been central to your journey. Does the city remain a source of inspiration for you?
Moetu: We’ve lived in Lyon for almost 25 years, and we’re very fond of this city filled with light. The Festival of Lights is an incredible playground for creators and a huge showcase. It’s a model for many cities around the world and we’re incredibly lucky to have it!

And now? What projects or ideas are you working on for the years ahead?
Moetu: We certainly hope to return with a new project for the Festival of Lights. In the meantime, the Anooki will be at the Estades Gallery from 22 November. We’re preparing a super exhibition featuring statues (mostly in bronze) and works on paper, running until 10 January 2026. A new format, a new space and new techniques!