The Côte d'Azur and Provence still cultivate their taste for art and propose many exhibitions,
plays and other events all year long. Focus on our flourishing cultural activities.
Inspired by Masters of the Renaissance, Sabine Pigalle offers a new interpretation in this digital odyssey. Navigating between reality and fiction, painting and photography, she sows doubt and uncertainty, and appeals to our memories. Enigmatic and hybrid, her works blur the boundaries between these two major mediums long opposed by the history of art. Entitled “Mémoires d’Outre-temps”, this exhibition orchestrated by curator Charlotte Urbain offers an immersive experience on four themes. Until end of september. Musée Jean-Honoré Fragonard, Hôtel de Villeneuve, 14 rue Jean Ossola, Grasse (04 93 36 02 07).
The Château des Baux de Provence invites visitors to roam around freely in the life and work of painter Vassily Kandinsky (1866 Moscow - 1944 Neuilly-sur-Seine). This open-air exhibition called “Sur le chemin de l’abstraction” stages 11 large-format panels blending artworks and documentary photographs tracing the artistic and intellectual path of this prolific artist. Until january 2nd. www.château-baux-provence.com
The tale of the Vasarely Foundation in Aix-en-Provence began at the Château de Gordes, restored by the artist himself in order to accommodate his Didactic Museum. For the 50th anniversary of this institution, the Château de Gordes and the village centre will be clad in Vasarely colours throughout the summer. In novembre, the exhibition will move into the Foundation in Aix-en-Provence. www.fondationvasarely.org
Centenary exhibition “César & César & César” : the name of this exhibition being held in honour of the centenary of César’s birth. Charting the periods and major styles comprising the work of the great French sculptor, it offers a panoramic view through his exploration of materials in a career that produced sculptures, self-portraits, photographs and masks. Until 31 juillet. Almine Rech Gallery, 64 rue de Turenne, Paris 3. www.alminerech.com
This exhibition sheds light on this family of artists from the Swiss village of Stampa. Together with Alberto Giacometti - the most renowned member of the family for his iconic sculptures -, visitors will be able to discover the work of his father Giovanni, his cousin Augusto, both major players in early 20th-century Swiss painting, and that of his two younger brothers, Diego, sculptor and designer, and Bruno, a leading architect in post-war Swiss urban planning. From July 3rd to November 14th. fondation-maeght.com
Calling all fans of Chanel ! Artcurial is holding an on-line sale dedicated to Chanel from April 2nd to 8th. Alongside classic bags, tweed jackets and costume jewellery, it will also offer the chance to discover more unusual items such as ultra-luxurious lifestyle objects and limited editions. www.artcurial.com
Opera Gallery is paying tribute to the famous Spanish painter and sculptor, Manolo Valdés. An open-air exhibition dedicated to his work at the heart of Paris, with ten monumental sculptures to be discovered along Avenue George V. Until April 1st. www.operagellery.com
Virtual expo The immersive digital exhibition "Pompéi" takes spectators to the heart of the city of Pompeii in 3D. On the programme (until Nov. 3rd) : the eruption of Vesuvius, projections of frescoes, videos and historic documentaries hitherto unseen. A presentation of objects from recent excavations, only now revealed to the public, completes this experience with a superb scenography signed Sylvain Roca.n
The great Franco-Israeli artist-designer Arik Levy has chosen the Château Sainte Roseline for his summer exhibition entitled “MineralNature” staging a selection of his monumental sculptures in the gardens of the vineyard estate. Until October 2nd. Château Sainte Roseline. 1854, route de Sainte Roseleine, Les Arcs-sur-Argens (O4 94 99 50 30).
The National Fernand Léger Museum in Biot on the Côte d’Azur invites its visitors to immerse themselves in 20th-C. masterpieces : first, “Les Constructeurs” painted by Fernand Léger just after the Second World War, then the monumental triptych “Class War”, “Militant”, “Gateway” (property of the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris) produced in 1986 by British artists Gilbert & George. A visually striking face-to-face ! Until November 16th. Musée Fernand Léger. 255, chemin du Val de Pôme, Biot. (04 92 91 50 20)
Created by Gianfranco Iannuzzi with the musical collaboration of Luca Longobardi, this immersive digital exhibition dedicated to Salvador Dalì lights up the “Carrières de Lumières”. Spanning over 60 years of creation by this Catalan master who invented several artistic styles, it takes spectators on a themed circuit, placing them in the midst of Surrealist and metaphysical landscapes created by this artist of boundless imagination. Until January 3rd. Carrières de Lumière, route de Maillane, Les Baux-en-Provence. www.carrieres-lumieres.com
The Museum of Decorative Arts is presenting master- pieces from its “Cabinet des Dessins” in a major exhibition celebrating the richness of its collections. Containing over 200,000 works - from the 15th century to the present day, from Europe to Japan - Drawings by masters such as Le Brun, Watteau and Rodin, as well as works by ornamentalists, decorators, and models for jewellery and “haute-couture”. Until January 31st. Carrousel du Louvre, 107 rue de Rivoli, Paris 1. madparis.fr
Pursuing its exploration of the relationship between the body and fashion, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs focuses on shoes in this exhibition reviewing various ways of walking from the Middle Ages to the present day. In staging entrusted to architect Éric Benqué, almost 500 works (footwear, paintings, photographs, artworks, films and advertisements) give an extraordinary presentation of this piece of clothing, sometimes banal, sometimes amazing. Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Carrousel du Louvre, 107 rue de Rivoli, Paris 1 (01 44 55 57 50).
Whatever the starting-point, a yearning for sunlight or a dream of escapism, flight, wanderings or exile, travel has always been a source of inspiration for artists. The exhibition "Voyage Voyages" sets us on the trail of Paul Gauguin, Vassily Kandisky, Henri Matisse, Andy Warhol... From January 22nd to May 4th. Mucem, 1 esplanade J4, Marseille 2 (04 84 35 13 13).
After exploring literature and nature, Chaumet unveils a new facet of its jewellery culture in this exhibition presenting a series of photographs by Julia Hetta. "Autrement" explores the art of making a piece of jewellery one's own by wearing it to reflect the fads of fashion and one's own imagination. Until November 2nd. Chaumet, 165 boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris 6 (01 75 64 26 20).
French fashion and publicity photographer Guy Bourdin (1928-1991) pursued his artistic career from the 1950's to 1980's. His work is still seen as a source of inspiration. This avant-garde creator is given a place of honour in an exhibition entitled "Zoom", highlighting his fascination for very elaborate graphic compositions, concepts, cropping and the narrative style. Until January 26th. Musée de la Photographie Charles Nègre, 1 place Pierre Gautier, Nice (04 97 13 42 20).
A prominent personality in 20th-century design, Charlotte Perriand (1903-1999) is seen as a pioneer in modernity. On the 20th anniversary of her death, the Louis Vuitton Foundation is paying tribute to this visionary architect with a major exhibition revealing the links between art, architecture and design in her creations and works by Léger, Picasso, Braque, Miro, Le Corbusier, Soulages, Hartung, Noguchi, Delaunay... Until February 24th. Fondation Louis Vuitton, 8 avenue du Mahatma Gandhi, Paris 16 (www.fondationlouisvuitton.fr).
In a double presentation at the Muséum Départemental du Var and in the Maison de la Nature des 4 Frères, the aim of this exhibition is to plunge visitors into the heart of the fabulous world of imagination of Jules Verne (1828-1905). It is a real voyage of discovery of an extraordinary author, a visionary who was also deeply anchored in the science of his time. Until February 9th. Muséum départemental du Var et Maison de la nature des Quatre Frères, Toulon (04 83 95 44 20).
A major player in the creation of the Maeght Foundation alongside Marguerite and Aimé Maeght and their friend, architect Josep Lluis Sert, Joan Miro is celebrated in this major summer exhibition. Focusing on the artist’s work process, it invites the public to discover an essential part of his production : his exceptional graphic work. Until November 17th. Fondation Maeght, 623 chemin des Gardettes, Saint-Paul-de-Vence (04 93 32 81 63).
Over 1,000 m2 are devoted to the eternal Marilyn, the star of 200 unique photos and documents hitherto unseen. For the first time in France, this event brings together shots taken by the four greatest names in American photography who immortalized Marilyn Monroe at different times in her life : Sam Shaw, Bert Stern, André de Dienes and Milton Greene. Until September 22th. Galerie Joseph. 116, rue de Turenne, Paris 3 (01 42 71 20 22)
