Lyon. His miniatures have been wildly successful for years in this renowned museum.

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Located at the start of rue Saint-Jean, in the Vieux-Lyon district, the Cinema and Miniature museum is full of treasures.

If its collection of authentic objects and film costumes is impressive, its numerous hyperrealistic miniatures immerse visitors in a parallel universe, a sort of waking dream. Works largely created by Dan Ohlmann, founding artist of this private establishment open for 20 years.

A first museum on the Saint-Paul side

“I am self-taught. I have always been a fan of science fiction, of models used in cinema. But I prefer the miniature, to dream a little,” reveals the man who first worked in the profession cabinetmaker and interior decorator before becoming a miniaturist.

Or rather “miniaturist reporter”, as he likes to say. “In fact, I freeze images of moments of life, of places that touch me,” he slips.

Before settling on the Saint-Jean side and really mixing his art with that of cinema, Dan Ohlmann opened, in 1990, the Palace of the Miniature in the Saint-Paul district. A first foothold in the industry which opened the way to an incredible international career, with exhibitions all over the world.

In France, miniatures are seen as a joyous hobby, a little hobby. But I can tell you that’s really not what people feel when they look at them.

Up to 15 months of work on a single work

The artist prefers dwell on emotionsthose that he felt or that he provides through his miniatures, rather than on the technical aspect of his work. “I don’t like people asking me how long it took, for example. That’s not really the important thing,” he says, before politely agreeing to play the game and answer the famous question.

“The maximum time I spent on a work was 15 months,” reveals Dan Ohlmann. A goldsmith’s work incredible which has, among other things, given rise to meticulous reproductions of the Saint-Paul prison in Lyon, having also been used for a film set, or the abandoned hotel on Place des Terreaux.

“Sometimes there are scenes that also come out of my imagination,” he explains in front of his miniature time machine.

Meeting with a Swiss patron

At the beginning of the 2000s, his work was noticed by a Swiss patron, who offered to buy him a larger place in Old Lyon, classified as a Historic Monument, and to move it there. install for free.

A meeting that changed everything for Dan Ohlmann, who was able to open the establishment of his dreams on rue Saint-Jean. “It was really incredible,” he recalls.

Friend of several personalities, rubbing shoulders with big names in cinema, the miniaturist has managed to carve out a very special place for himself in the industry and to assemble, thus, one of the largest collections in the world linked to the 7th art.

A move planned soon

In 2021, Dan Ohlmann stepped down from the museum’s leadership, making way for Julien Dumontyoung producer and director passionate about cinema. But the miniaturist is never far away.

His works, around fifty, will soon move to a historic building located right next door and purchased by the museum: the Chamarier’s house. A new adventure which should begin in 2025.

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