Bordeaux Nazi submarine base to become world's largest digital art center

The Bassins de Lumières, the world's largest digital art center, will open on April 17, 2020, in a former Nazi submarine base in Bordeaux. The project, led by French private cultural operator Culturespaces, involves a €10 million investment to transform the massive concrete structure built during World War II. The center will feature immersive digital projections of art masterpieces onto the base's four large water basins, creating reflections on the water surface. Spaces include Le Cube (220 sqm for digital artists), La Citerne (original artworks), Les Grands Nénuphars (projections on water), a museum on the base's history, an educational area, a mezzanine, a stage, and a lounge. The inaugural exhibition, "Gustav Klimt: Gold and Color," will focus on the Viennese Secessionist's decorative elements, portraits, landscapes, and gold leaf. A secondary exhibition, "Paul Klee: Painting Music," will include an underwater concert and projections on water. Contemporary art will be represented by "Ocean Data" by Turkish collective Ouchhh, an algorithm-driven installation using millions of ocean data points. The center will be open seven days a week, with exhibitions renewed annually. Culturespaces was motivated by the success of similar projects: Carrières de Lumières in Les Baux-de-Provence and Atelier des Lumières in Paris. Bruno Monnier, President of Culturespaces, stated the center will offer unforgettable audiovisual experiences in a unique environment.