Avant-garde artist Jean-Michel Othoniel transforms the historic City of Popes, Avignon, France, into a romantic symbol of affection.
Jean-Michel Othoniel's latest exhibition, *Othoniel Cosmos or The Ghosts of Love*, has breathed new life into the historic city of Avignon, France. Running until January 4, 2026, this monumental project has seen the city's museums and iconic sites transformed into a captivating gallery of art and imagination.
The exhibition, which is Othoniel's most ambitious to date, spans 10 emblematic sites across the city, including the Palais des Papes and the picturesque Pont d’Avignon. It was conceived and realized over a two-year period, marking a unique collaboration between the artist and the city of Avignon, as the city entrusted its museums and historical sites to a single artist for such a comprehensive project for the first time.
The exhibition draws inspiration from Italian poet Petrarch's *Il Canzoniere*, a lyrical work dedicated to Laura of Avignon, and the thematic focus on love and poetry is woven throughout the exhibition. Visitors can start anywhere in the exhibition, but the symbolic entrance is Avignon Bridge.
The artworks are designed to engage with the medieval city's architecture and history, creating a dialogue between art, architecture, and the city's narrative. The exhibition features 270 works, of which 160 are new creations, encompassing a variety of mediums, including sculptures and paintings that reflect Othoniel's unique style of blending art and architecture with the city's history and landscapes.
One of the most talked-about pieces in the exhibition is a large red heart, hidden behind a golden gate in a ruined chapel. This installation is a tribute to the first feeling of falling in love. Glass, a material used extensively in Othoniel's work, is delicate yet powerful when scaled up.
In addition to the main exhibition, Othoniel is involved in curating works from the Lambert Collection in an exhibition titled *A Love Song*, which explores the influence of other artists on his work. The installation in the Lambert Collection shows how minimal art can be sensual and generous.
Othoniel's work in Avignon balances fragility and monumentality. The logistics of the exhibition involved 50 trucks, 400 people, and a team of 20 relocating to Avignon for a month and a half. If there's one message Othoniel wants visitors to take away, it's that beauty matters and love is a force that moves us.
The exhibition is a love letter to the city, art, and the ghosts of love that linger in spaces. It is a testament to Othoniel's commitment to making culture accessible to all, with many of the museums participating in the exhibition offering free entry. Othoniel hopes the exhibition brings joy, energy, and hope to people, and leaves a beautiful memory for Avignon, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary as European Capital of Culture and its 30th anniversary as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Jean-Michel Othoniel's latest exhibition, Othoniel Cosmos or The Ghosts of Love, transcends into the realm of contemporary art, bridging the gap between Avignon, France, and Petrarch's poetic musings on love and Laura of Avignon.
- Aside from art, Othoniel's influence extends into the isntrict-design sphere, as his unique style of blending art and architecture is evident in his sculptures and paintings in the exhibition.
- The exhibition, a fusion of artistic expression and historic sites, beckons modern art enthusiasts and interior designers alike to reimagine the ethos of art, lifestyle, and living in a city rich with heritage and Provencal charm.
- Despite its grandeur, the exhibition's artwork pieces, such as the hidden red heart within a ruined chapel, carry a delicate fragility that echoes the allure and complexity of relationships, swirling through the heart of pop-culture.
- Whether you are keen on travel, entertainment, or expressing your fashion-and-beauty sensibilities, a visit to Avignon during the exhibition promises to be a captivating exploration of beauty, love, and the enduring spirit of art, creating an unforgettable memory in your home-and-garden of treasured experiences.
