Mike Nelson Paints UBS Monaco Entirely in Ultramarine Blue

British artist Mike Nelson has transformed the interior of a seven-story UBS building in Monaco into a surreal, monochrome space by painting everything—furniture, objects, and walls—in ultramarine blue. The project, titled "Cloak" (Mantello), is a site-specific intervention commissioned by the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco, with logistical support from Galleria Franco Noero in Turin. The building, located on Avenue de Grande-Bretagne, was closed for renovations when Nelson executed the work. Ultramarine, historically the most expensive pigment derived from lapis lazuli mined in Afghanistan, was used in medieval devotional paintings for the Virgin Mary's robes. By applying this costly color to a financial institution's abandoned office, Nelson creates a metaphysical space that comments on commerce and its associated issues. The project is curated by Suad Garayeva-Maleki, Chief Curator and Director of the YARAT Contemporary Art Centre Collection in Baku, and Cristiano Raimondi, Head of Development and International Projects at the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco. The installation is open to visitors by appointment until September 15, with viewing hours Wednesday through Friday from 2 to 6 PM, for groups of up to 10-15 people. Reservations can be made through Cristiano Raimondi or Floriane Spinetta.