Paintings by great masters are on display in the streets of six towns in Hauts-de-France, until December 8. An open-air exhibition as part of the fourth edition of “Beauty will save the world”, initiated in 2021 by the town of Saint-Dizier (Haute-Marne).
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An open-air museum for “bring beauty to public space“. It is for this reason that Nathanaël Rosenfeld, mayor of Orry-la-ville (Oise), decided to participate in the fourth edition of this temporary exhibition, present in several municipalities in France. An idea launched there, three years old, during the Covid crisis, by the town of Saint-Dizier in Haute-Marne.
In Orry-la-ville, residents and passers-by can come across 31 reproductions of works by the greatest masters. From Renoir, to Manet, via Hokusai and Van Gogh. The town hall had the choice among around a hundred paintings, from the collections of national museums.
These urban galleries have several objectives. First of all, make art accessible to all. Through this initiative, the mayor of the commune of Oise wishes “put smiles on faces, arouse questions, curiosity, wonder.“
And the crossed inhabitants are conquered “We loved the idea. It's the museum that comes to the countryside“, testifies a mother traveling through the city with her children. The family takes photos of the works that interest them. On returning home, she explains that they will make a top 3. A good way to interest them and give them a gateway to this cultural domain.
The works are everywhere. In front of public buildings, gardens, stadiums and bus shelters. They are also exhibited in unusual places, such as the wash house. “It is a place where the inhabitants of Orry come to picnic. There are small tables, the lawn, poplars. We are in a really nice setting, outside the city“, describes the mayor. It was therefore obvious to display 'Luncheon on the Grass' by Edouard Manet.
A family from Orry-la-ville takes photos of works that appeal to them.
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© Belinda Sid Ahmed / FTV
For walkers, it's a little cultural break, like this local taking his health walk. “Being surprised like that is a good thing. We hear so much right now, we almost have to close our ears and our eyes. There, we have to reopen them“, he enthuses.
The elected official agrees and defends the beauty of art as a response to the current climate of the world. “You watch the news, you see what is happening in our world: the conflicts, the tension, the hatred, the antagonisms between the positions of each side. We can clearly see that everything is getting harder. Let's put some beauty on. I believe in Dostoyevsky's words that beauty will save the world […] Let's work on beauty to try to calm morals a little.“
The exhibition is visible in participating municipalities until December 8. In Hauts-de-France, five other municipalities have joined the movement: Château-Thierry (Aisne), Bondues (North), Saint-André-les-Lille (North), Dunkerque (North) and Béthune (Pas-de-France). Calais).
The system should be extended to other municipalities in 2025, in public services, schools and hospitals.
With Elise Ramirez / FTV
