Chantal Colleu-Dumond on Art and Nature at Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire

In an interview with artpress, Chantal Colleu-Dumond, director of Domaine régional de Chaumont-sur-Loire, discusses the integration of contemporary art with nature at the estate. The Domaine, known for its Festival international des jardins (since 1992), also operates a Centre d'arts et de nature established in 2008, which commissions around fifteen site-specific artworks annually. Artists are hosted in residence to create works tailored to specific locations, such as Henrique Oliveira's Momento fecundo (2014) and Janaina Mello Landini's Cyclotrama (2019). Most pieces are made from fragile natural materials and remain on site to decay over time, though some permanent works like Andy Goldsworthy's Cairn (2016) and Eva Jospin's Folie (2018) exist. The Centre also runs Chaumont-Photo-sur-Loire, a photography event. Colleu-Dumond emphasizes the concept of the "juste place" for positioning artworks, ensuring harmony with the heritage site. She selects artists through visits to fairs, galleries, and exhibitions, balancing renowned names like Giuseppe Penone with emerging talents such as Janaina Mello Landini. The 2020 season features artists including Joël Andrianomearisoa, Philippe Cognée, Pascal Convert, Marinette Cueco, Makoto Azuma, and others, with a focus on poetry and vibration. Visitor numbers have grown from 200,000 to 534,000 in ten years, driven by the art program. Colleu-Dumond maintains high standards despite the rural location, aiming to reach diverse audiences.