Force of nature: new sculpture park harnesses Le Muy's splendid settings

By
last updated
in News
Galerie Mitterrand has unveiled a sculpture park in the south of France
Galerie Mitterrand has unveiled a sculpture park in the south of France. Pictured: 'Deep Violet', by Mark Handforth, 2014. © The artist. Courtesy of Domaine du Muy.
(Image credit: JC Lett)

The French Riviera has long been the quintessential destination for the well-heeled and dutifully bronzed. From this week, however, there's a new reason for the jet set to make their summer pilgrimage to the Côte d'Azur in the form of the Domaine du Muy, a freshly unveiled sculpture park conceived by Paris-based Galerie Mitterrand.

Located an hour south of St Tropez, the new sculpture trail is spread over some 10 acres of land with 30 artworks by the likes of Carsten Höller, Yayoi Kusama, Sarah Morris, and Antony Gormley peppered throughout the rugged landscape. The park is aimed at collectors and sculpture aficionados alike, and will be a vital addition to the ‘collector’s circuit’ that has developed in the region over the last five years, according to Parisian gallerist and art dealer Jean-Gabriel Mitterrand.

The new venture is a family affair, with Mitterrand’s son, Edward, taking the reigns as artistic director. Meanwhile, Swiss curator Simon Lamunière, of Art Basel pedigree, has overseen the inaugurating exhibition.

The raw, natural settings of Le Muy offers a liberating context in which to display the works. Claude Lalanne, for example, proves the (golden) apple doesn’t fall far from the tree with ‘Pomme de New York’, while Gianni Motti’s ‘Success Failure (Blue)' signs add a witty – and fitting – counterpoint to the landscape.

Artists Claudia Comte, Vidya Gastaldon, Gianni Motti, David Saltiel, Tomás Saraceno and Roman Signer have also created new site-specific works especially for the Domaine du Muy. A house designed by India Mahdavi and gardens by landscape gardener Louis Benech will complete the sculpture park in 2016.

rockstone

'RockStone 198', by Arik Levy, 2015. © The artist. Courtesy of Domaine du Muy.

(Image credit: JC Lett)

Danuza Leão

'Danuza Leão [Rio]', by Sarah Morris, 2013. © The artist. Courtesy of Domaine du Muy.

(Image credit: JC Lett)

tower

'1-2-3 Tower', by Sol LeWitt, 1993. © The artist. Courtesy of Domaine du Muy.

(Image credit: JC Lett)

pomme de new york

'Pomme de New York', by Claude Lalanne', 2006. © The artist. Courtesy of Domaine du Muy.

(Image credit: JC Lett)

Success Failure (Blue)

'Success Failure (Blue)', by Gianni Motti, 2014. © The artist. Courtesy of Domaine du Muy.

(Image credit: JC Lett)

dream stone

'Dream Stone', by Sui Jianguo, 2010. © The artist. Courtesy of Domaine du Muy.

(Image credit: JC Lett)

4 centres délimitant un carre

'4 centres délimitant un carré', by David Saltiel, 2008. © The artist. Courtesy of Domaine du Muy.

(Image credit: JC Lett)

Chromosaturation pour une allée publique

'Chromosaturation pour une allée publique', by Carlos Cruz-Diaz, 1965-2012. © The artist. Courtesy of Domaine du Muy.

(Image credit: JC Lett)

untitled red

'Untitled (red)', by Peter Kogler, 2008. © The artist. Courtesy of Domaine du Muy.

(Image credit: JC Lett)

bob

'Bob', by Claire Fontaine, 2010. © The artist. Courtesy of Domaine du Muy.

(Image credit: JC Lett)

ADDRESS

Domaine du Muy
83490 Le Muy (Var)
France

VIEW GOOGLE MAPS