Three exhibitions in one! In Montpellier, contemporary art is taking root with an innovative concept combining the École Supérieure des Beaux-Arts and two exhibition spaces housed in renovated historic buildings. The flagship of this unique artistic ecosystem, the Hôtel des Collections, showcases works by artists from all over the world.
Training, producing, conducting research, promoting mediation with the widest possible audience, exhibiting... With MoCo, for Montpellier Contemporain, Montpellier has become a veritable laboratory for contemporary art. The showcase for this artistic effervescence? The Hôtel Montcalm, a beautiful 19th-century residence located near the station and not far from the Place de la Comédie, is the flagship of MoCo, complementing two existing venues in the city: La Panacée, an exhibition centre dedicated to emerging artists, and the École Supérieure des Beaux-Arts.
HQ of contemporary art
Within this unique trio, the Hotel des Collections aims to offer a creative collective or individual proposal to foundations, museums, companies and even solo artists.
Revamped to become the headquarters of contemporary art, the Montcalm hotel is hidden in a vast garden that keeps it away from the noise of the city on rue de la République. There is a 1,500m² exhibition space, a bar-restaurant and a bookshop running seasonal events.
Architect Philippe Chambaretta has retained the sober, graphic facade of the building while adding a contemporary edge with a cube of light crowning the former officers’ mess. Artist Bertrand Lavier has redesigned the garden. Conceived as a world map, it will see plant species flourish from all continents.
From art to the restaurant
On the ground floor of the museum, vaulted ceilings, red columns and a black-and-white checkered marble floor retain grandeur – while the decor of the upper floors is suitably more neutral to suit the display of the works.
In addition to its exhibitions, the Hotel des Collections will invite artists to take over its bar-restaurant and grounds. Revealed in preview, the installation of the restaurant is set to dazzle visitors. ‘The Unplayed Notes Factory’, a work by Loris Gréaus presented at the Venice Biennale in 2017, will decorate the ceiling of the future bar with 1,200 unique, hand-blown filament lamps, in reference to the glassworks on the island of Murano.
For its inaugural exhibition, the MoCo will unveil a prestigious and intimate collection by Japanese entrepreneur Yasuharu Ishikawa. Initiated in 2011 and including almost 50 major museum works of our time (sculptures, videos, installations and photographs), she questions the relation of the spectator to the piece of art. On Kawara, Felix Gonzalez Torres, Tino Sehgal and Pierre Huyghes are among the 20 international artists represented at this first exhibition, curated by influential Yuko Hasegawa, artistic director of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOT) in Tokyo.
The MoCo will put on three exhibitions a year, each lasting approximately three months. Following Ishikawa will be works from a public Russian collection. See you on 29 June!
By Charlotte Cabon
Journalist
