2023-09-05 11:26:23
How many lives will the Hôtel de Craon have? Built in the 18th century, this private mansion located in the center of La Rochelle (Charente-Maritime) was in turn a socialite salon, military court, police station between 1954 and 2017. Since then bought by the Chessé group, it is to become in the years to come a concept store dedicated to retail, after a complete renovation. In the meantime, an artistic parenthesis opens in this place well known to the people of Rochelle.
Since June 1, five artists have been welcomed for a three-month residency, supported by the Chessé group’s endowment fund. Louis Guillaume, Quentin Gouevic, Johanna Mirabel and Nils Vandevenne are part of the young emerging French contemporary scene. To which is added Neal Fox, a British artist. All had carte blanche to take over the various spaces of the former police station as they pleased. Their work gave birth to “Modus Operandi”, an exhibition inaugurated on September 2 and presented until September 17.
artistic melting pot
“This is not just an exhibition featuring the raw result of work carried out in situ (…) It aims for a more ambitious intention: that of detecting and experiencing what the guest artists have drawn from this place from the soul and particularly marked history, to create”, emphasizes Marianne Dollo, curator of the exhibition. Nils Vandevenne, for example, recovered benches from police custody cells to create a room decorated with lacquered wood. “I define myself as a painter without painting. I always try to de-paint, to add material, to shape backwards,” he explains.
In another room, the superposition of layers, color and light are at the heart of Quentin Gouevic’s compositions. Neal Fox, on the other hand, expresses himself in Indian ink to resurrect the figures of musical, artistic and literary culture. Johanna Mirabel explores interior spaces on large format oil paintings. While Louis Guillaume draws his inspiration from natural materials, harvested over the seasons. A joyful artistic melting pot, described as “extraordinary work” by Catherine Benguigui, the deputy mayor of La Rochelle in charge of culture. “This is an unprecedented initiative in a transitional urban planning before a major renovation of the place,” she said.
“Modus Operandi”. From September 2 to 17, at the Hôtel de Craon, 2 place de Verdun in La Rochelle. Until September 17. Tuesday to Sunday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 September (European Heritage Days): 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. Free admission.
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