Moselle. Vantoux: Spend a day visiting the last Jean-Prouvé school in France, now a contemporary art gallery.
One might think that an art gallery lost in the Lorraine countryside isn't worth a day trip. Think again. This art gallery has nothing to envy from others. It is unique. First, because of its history. When the Ministry of National Education launched a call for tenders to build new schools after the war, the Ateliers Jean-Prouvé responded. In 1951, Jean and Henri Prouvé built a prototype of a "dismountable" single-class school, made mainly of wood and metal, and installed it on the heights of the small Moselle village of Vantoux.
The completion of work on the Les Moulins school in 2014, better suited to contemporary needs, marked the end of Jean-Prouvé's school. A truly exceptional location, with a magnificently green and peaceful setting, it has now been transformed into a contemporary art gallery.
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Opening in May 2024, the Nathan-Chiche gallery is hosting its fourth exhibition, which, for the first time, brings together two artists: David Mbuyi and Maria Adjovi. Both studied at the Beaux-Arts in Paris: the young Congolese artist graduated in 2023, while the young Beninese painter will soon. Entitled Images Never Sleep , this exhibition of oils on canvas is a dialogue between them. "Both work from photography," explains Bernardo Di Battista, director of the gallery. "The theme revolves around memory."
Maria Adjovi offers highly personal and symbolic paintings, paying homage to her late mother. Through a composition reminiscent of traditional Italian painting, her technique is almost hyperrealistic, as if her paintings were nothing more than old, slightly blurry photographs.
David Mbuyi, for his part, presents a series of works with a photo collage or pixelated effect. "His discourse is more formal; the medium of photography is more a question of style," says Bernardo Di Battista.
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In the center of the old classroom are two old school desks designed by Jean Prouvé . Take the time to sit down for a moment and observe the place. The light that enters the room through the large bay window. The spherical details on the walls. The serenity that the place provides. You will see, time flows differently here.
Right next to the main building is a small bookstore, which is open for browsing. In addition to the exhibition, short films about the artists' creative process are screened there.
Open Thursday to Saturday, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., the gallery also welcomes groups by appointment.
Exhibition on view until September 13 (closed in August).
Le Républicain Lorrain
