Jean Giono's manuscripts and imaginary library at Mucem in Marseille

The Mucem in Marseille presents a comprehensive exhibition on writer Jean Giono, curated by Emmanuelle Lambert, author of the monograph "Giono, furioso" (2019). The show features nearly all of Giono's manuscripts displayed for the first time, alongside 300 works and documents, including films he made or scripted and cinematic adaptations. A pacifist deeply marked by World War I, Giono is explored through this lens. Contemporary artist Clémentine Mélois, a recent member of OuLiPo, created an installation within the exhibition: an ironic and irreverent imaginary library reconstructing Giono's personal library at his home Le Paraïs in Manosque. Mélois spent two days at the library, which she describes as a portrait of its owner, revealing his tastes, classification habits, and annotations. Her installation features a red-walled room with a reconstructed library using categories from Giono's own collection, including Pléiade series, Série Noire, and Gallimard white collections, with gilding for precious works. A bust of Giono is colored like a "santone" figurine from Provençal nativity scenes. The installation also includes terracotta statuettes, postcards, small objects, two videos evoking "The Man Who Planted Trees" and sea adventure tales, and a wall of reinterpreted paintings from Giono's personal mythology, including works by Pieter Brueghel, Hieronymus Bosch, and Paul Cézanne. The exhibition runs until February 17, 2020.