In the world of street art, monumental murals would not be possible without the technical support of aerial work platforms. They allow artists to work safely and precisely, and to attempt increasingly ambitious formats. Haulotte regularly supports this type of project.
In Lyon, France, the fourth edition of the AiRT DE FAMILLE festival will take over the Perrache Exchange Center and its surroundings from September 20 to November 30, 2025. Created in 2022 in the former headquarters of the Caisse d’Épargne, this event, conceived by omart and the consulting and creative agency Métronomi, focuses on taking over spaces in transition to offer an artistic experience that is accessible to all.
« The goal is for everyone to have access to culture, everywhere and without filters, » explains Romain Teichner, artistic director of omart. « We’re here to give artists a springboard: real visibility, contacts, sales, but above all a space of freedom. Here, we don’t hold them back. »
After the Musée des Tissus and the Galerie des Terreaux, this year’s festival brings together more than 40 artists around the theme of the metamorphosis of worlds. The scenography invites visitors to travel through five universes, from the forest to the agora, where monumental murals and immersive boxes invite them to « step into a painting, » a nod to Mary Poppins.
It is in this setting that the Agoréa mural was created by the duo the Toki on Place Carnot, the true gateway to the festival.
"Look up"
Perrache station is a busy transit hub, steeped in history and undergoing rapid change. « What’s interesting here is that people from all walks of life cross paths, » explain the Toki. « In other murals, we address a local audience who already know us. Here, it’s the opposite: the idea is that any passerby can look up and come across a 20-meter-high character. »
The yellow guardian, with his big mouth, two small teeth, and childlike but very expressive face, embodies the simple joy that is their signature. The feedback was immediate: photos, smiles, congratulations… and sometimes a few criticisms. « It’s rare to get live feedback while you’re painting. Here, it created a real exchange, sometimes positive, sometimes critical. But that’s what urban art is all about: it’s for everyone. »
Four days, over 20 meters high, and first experience in an aerial work platform
The mural was completed in four days on a wall measuring around 20 meters. « We thought it would take longer, » admit the Toki. « But once we got started, it all came together quite quickly. »
To ensure precision, they used a video projector to transfer their outline before moving on to the flat colors and contours. The hot weather made the task more difficult: « We had to manage drying times, alternate areas, and take regular breaks. »
Most importantly, this was their first mural in an aerial work platform. « We were a little apprehensive: 22 meters up is pretty impressive! But the machine proved to be intuitive, stable, and precise. We could get within centimeters of the wall and position the outlines without any effort. » They sum it up: « It was smoother than expected, and it allowed us to be ambitious without losing precision. »
Using the aerial platform also transformed the way they worked: « Usually, we do the flat areas first, then the outlines. Here, we had to finish the upper part first to free up the machine for others. It changed our rhythm, but it worked. »
For Romain Teichner, this technical partnership was essential: « Bringing a 20-meter aerial work platform into the city center was a real logistical challenge. Thanks to Haulotte, everything went smoothly, from delivery to training the artists. Without them, this mural would never have seen the light of day. »
Michael Bailly, Sales Manager for France at Haulotte, confirms: « We are very proud to have supported this project. Putting our aerial work platforms at the service of a major cultural event like AiRT DE FAMILLE is a way of showing that technology and art can enrich each other. »
A duo, a work of art, a message
For the past five years, the Toki have been developing a unique universe around a simple shape: the capsule, a graphic basis that allows them to create a gallery of playful and colorful characters, inspired by pop culture.
For AiRT DE FAMILLE, their mission was to design the « guardians » embodying the five worlds of the scenography, including the guardian of this mural. They chose Agoréa, the yellow world, symbolizing optimism, connection, and energy.
More than just decoration, the mural is part of the site’s evolution. In a station undergoing transformation, Agoréa invites people to look up, gather around it, and be welcomed by a smiling face.
« It was a childhood dream for them, and even for me, » says Romain Teichner. « To be facing Place Carnot, to create a mural of this scale… it’s a defining moment in an artist’s career. »
Beyond this monumental work, the Toki are involved in the scenography of the five worlds of AiRT DE FAMILLE. Their ambition is to build bridges between generations and bring color and fantasy where they are least expected. Large formats and working at height are now an integral part of their artistic approach.