Marie de Villepin's "Chimera" Opens in Renzo Piano Pavilion at Château La Coste
The exhibition "Chimera" by Marie de Villepin is on display from September 19 to October 22 at Château La Coste in Provence, located within Renzo Piano's pavilion. It showcases artworks created between 2023 and 2026, featuring pieces such as "Chimera" (2023), "What You Saw Was Never There," "Dormiveglia" (2025), "Visions of Collisions" (2023), "Predator's Ball," "Moth to a Flame" (2026), and "The Old World Melts Like a Candle" (2023–2024). De Villepin employs a technique of layering and erasing, which uncovers previous marks. The title alludes to a painting style where shapes blend into one another, drawing inspiration from artists like Don Van Vliet and Vincent van Gogh. Born in Washington, D.C., de Villepin initially used drawing as a form of diary before delving into fantastical landscapes, with the exhibition reflecting inherent contradictions.
Key facts
- "Chimera" is on view September 19–October 22 at Château La Coste in Provence.
- The exhibition is installed in Renzo Piano's partially buried pavilion, reached by a narrow ramp between raw-concrete walls.
- It brings together paintings made between 2023 and 2026.
- The title work "Chimera" (2023) was painted shortly after de Villepin returned from the Munch exhibition at the Musée d'Orsay.
- "Dormiveglia" (2025) reflects her engagement with Zao Wou-Ki, particularly in the mass of green and physical gesture.
- "Visions of Collisions" (2023) is the first work in a series she hopes to pursue throughout her life, departing from Vincent van Gogh's final walk toward the Auberge Ravoux.
- "Predator's Ball" recalls the grotesque theatricality of Jacques Callot's "Balli di Sfessania."
- "Moth to a Flame" (2026) was worked on the floor, returned to the wall, and taken back to the floor, leaving traces of fingers, large brushes, and bodily movement.
- Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart) and his album "Trout Mask Replica" are cited as a key musical influence, alongside Lou Reed, Syd Barrett, and Nine Inch Nails.
- De Villepin was born in Washington, D.C., and raised between the United States and India.
Entities
Artists
- Marie de Villepin
- Renzo Piano
- Zao Wou-Ki
- Vincent van Gogh
- Edvard Munch
- Lou Reed
- Syd Barrett
- Don Van Vliet
- Captain Beefheart
- Jacques Callot
Institutions
- Château La Coste
- Musée d'Orsay
- Auberge Ravoux
- Whitewall
Locations
- Provence
- France
- Washington, D.C.
- United States
- India