Charleville-Mézières Resists Calls to Remove Claude Lévêque Work from Rimbaud Museum
On 27 September, Libération published a petition urging the removal of Claude Lévêque's light installation, Le Cadran (2014), from the Musée Arthur Rimbaud in Charleville-Mézières. Among the signatories are Juliette Méadel and child psychiatrists Maurice Corcos and Gérard Pirlot, who contend that the piece disrespects Rimbaud's legacy and the memories of child rape victims. This petition comes in light of Lévêque's impending trial for allegations of rape and sexual assault against minors spanning from 1989 to 2007. Since January 2021, numerous institutions have taken down his works. Although Charleville-Mézières has cited technical and financial challenges in removing Le Cadran, talks are underway to deactivate the installation. Méadel emphasizes the need for "responsibility in the symbol," while Corcos criticizes the silence within the art community.
Key facts
- A petition published on 27 September in Libération calls for the removal of Claude Lévêque's Le Cadran (2014) from the Musée Arthur Rimbaud in Charleville-Mézières.
- Signatories include Juliette Méadel, former Secretary of State for Victim Support, and child psychiatrists Maurice Corcos and Gérard Pirlot.
- Claude Lévêque, 73, was ordered on 10 September to stand trial before the Seine-Saint-Denis criminal court for rape and sexual assault of minors aged 8 to 18 between 1989 and 2007; his lawyers have appealed.
- Since January 2021, institutions such as MAMCO Geneva, MAC/VAL in Vitry-sur-Seine, and Fontevraud Abbey have removed Lévêque's works.
- The Musée Arthur Rimbaud is one of the last institutions still exhibiting a Lévêque installation.
- Charleville-Mézières currently refuses to remove the work, citing technical difficulties and the cost of extracting it from the historic building.
- Nathalie Robcis, deputy for culture, said Lévêque's name has been removed from the museum's website and will be removed from the wall label; turning off the lights is under discussion.
- Maurice Corcos, author of Rimbaud, une adolescence violée (2016), argues the case is paradigmatic of violence against children and denounces an art-world omerta.
Entities
Artists
- Claude Lévêque
- Arthur Rimbaud
- Juliette Méadel
- Maurice Corcos
- Gérard Pirlot
- Nathalie Robcis
- Emma Boutier
- Jean-Christophe Castelain
- Philippe Geluck
- Gilles Bechet
- Christine Coste
- Alessandro Giuli
- Olivier Tosseri
Institutions
- Musée Arthur Rimbaud
- Libération
- Le Journal des Arts
- MAMCO
- MAC/VAL
- Abbaye de Fontevraud
- cour criminelle départementale de Seine-Saint-Denis
- Musée du Chat
- Château d'Aubenas
- Station Ausone
- Youtube
Locations
- Charleville-Mézières
- France
- Genève
- Suisse
- Vitry-sur-Seine
- Fontevraud
- Seine-Saint-Denis
- Montrouge
- Ixelles
- Belgique
- Aubenas
- Italie