Paris - 24 August 2021

1. Various of Noel Pasquier working on painting representing the Twin Towers in his Paris studio

2. Close-up brush dipped into jar containing blue paint (UPSOUND Pasquier: "The sky was blue and then the clouds (of smoke and dust appeared)."

3. Mid of Pasquier painting

4. Pasquier applying blue paint with his finger on his painting UPSOUND: "They (the towers) never stop falling down, never. They are always falling down, especially now."

5. Wide of Pasquier painting

6. Close-up Pasquier's exhibition catalogue "Twin towers, Twenty years. 2001-2021"

7. Three black and white small paintings representing the Twin Towers on display in his atelier

8. SOUNDBITE (French) Noel Pasquier, French painter and witness of the 9/11 attacks in New York:

"In my head, in my heart, in my belief, I felt American and united with the people. And with this solidarity we saw right after (the attacks), that same evening, with the candles, the photos of missing people posted in public squares, I felt very, very American."

9. Various of Pasquier sprinkling on his painting tiny fragments he picked up in the streets around the Towers right after the attacks

10. Painting on easel

11. Various of Pasquier working on his painting

12. SOUNDBITE (French) Noel Pasquier, French painter and witness of the 9/11 attacks in New York:

"(Reporter: The towers are alive?) Yes, they are very much alive. Here (pointing his hand on his chest), there (pointing his hand on his head), in the sky (pointing his hand above him). That's what memory is about. The towers are eternal."

13. Reflection in mirror showing Pasquier painting

Paris - 8 September 2021

14. Close-up sign next to painting reading "Noel Pasquier. 'Red Twins'. Mixed technique. 2011"

15. 'Red Twins' painting on wall

16. Pasquier talking with visitors in front of his paintings

17. SOUNDBITE (French) Noel Pasquier, French painter and witness of the 9/11 attacks in New York:

"I remember two things from September 11th: the beauty of this extraordinary blue sky and the crash, the ignominious act, the madness, the madness of people and this will to kill. This is horrendous and I think we should all rise up against it and remember especially the color of this exemplary and promising blue sky."

18. Pasquier's paintings representing the Twin Towers on wall in exhibition hall

ARTIST AND 9/11 WITNESS ON 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF ATTACKS

French painter Noel Pasquier was in New York City in September 2001 preparing an exhibition at the French consulate that was due to open to the public on September 13.

On the morning of 9/11, Pasquier decided to go for a walk to enjoy a bright blue sky, heading towards the Twin Towers neighbourhood.  

When the first plane hit the tower of the World Trade Center, he felt like an earthquake was happening, then he saw the second plane hitting the second tower.

"In my head, in my heart, in my belief, I felt American and united with the people" Pasquier told The Associated Press.

Pasquier was so traumatized that he stopped painting for several months after the attacks.

Twenty years after, he still can't capture in words the horror he witnessed that day so he decided to express his feelings and pay tribute to the victims through his art.

"I remember two things from September 11th: the beauty of this extraordinary blue sky and then the crash, the ignominious act, the madness, the folly of people and this will to kill," Pasquier said.

The 80-year-old artist always starts by painting a blue sky, the same one he saw on 9/11, and is using tiny fragments he picked up in the streets around the Towers right after the attacks in his paintings.

"We should all rise up and remember especially the color of this exemplary and promising blue sky" he added.

Pasquier's work on the Twin Towers is currently on display at the Grand Palais Éphémère in the French capital as part of the 2021 Paris Art Forum.