Discover the new Bassins de Lumières in Bordeaux

Created by Gianfranco Iannuzzi, Renato Gatto, and Massimiliano Siccardi (Source: https://www.bassins-lumieres.com/)

In Bordeaux, France, a submarine base has been turned into a museum. It will host one of the largest and most impressive digital art centres in the world.

A new cultural space

Source: https://www.instagram.com/bassinsdelumieres/

The brand new digital art centre is an enormous construction of 42,000 m² and almost 20 metres deep on the banks of the Garonne, which was built by the Germans to house submarines during the Second World War.

The centre is organised across 11 cells, separated by concrete walls and connected by interior walkways, allowing multiple simultaneous exhibitions.

  • The four huge pools will continuously present a cycle of digital and immersive exhibitions alternating a long creation, dedicated to great artists and more modern creation, of a shorter duration.
  • Le Cube, a space of 220 m² and 8 m high, is dedicated to contemporary artists of immersive art and will present creations of confirmed or emerging digital talents.
  • Le Citerne, a space of 155 m² and 7 m high, showcases the original works presented in the immersive exhibitions and their provenance museums.

Some figures about the centre:

  • 4 pools of 110 metres long, 22 metres wide and 12 metres high
  • 13,000 m² total area
  • 12,000 m² projection area
  • 3,000 m² walking area
  • 90 video projectors and 80 speakers

Exhibitions

Gustav Klimt: Gold and Colour

Created by Gianfranco Iannuzzi, Renato Gatto, and Massimiliano Siccardi (source: https://www.bassins-lumieres.com/)

“To mark its opening, the Bassins de Lumières will focus on a century of Viennese painting and take an original look at Gustav Klimt and his successors through a presentation of portraits, landscapes, nudes, colours, and gilding”.

This impressive work was created by Gianfranco Iannuzzi, Renato Gatto, and Massimiliano Siccardi, with the musical collaboration of Luca Longobardi.

Visitors will discover large-format masterpieces in 360 degrees, such as The Kiss, and will be immersed in Imperial Vienna at the end of the nineteenth century.

Normally, at any point in time, there are a number of temporal exhibitions about Klimt around the world. This is the latest and probably one of the most innovative and impressive. Find more about where to find Klimt works in this post.

Paul Klee: Painting Music

Source: https://www.bassins-lumieres.com/

The second exhibition is about dedicated to Paul Klee, whose style was influenced by movements including Expressionism, Cubism, and Surrealism, and was known as a natural draftsman who experimented with and eventually deeply explored color theory.

“This immersive exhibition will be devoted to the colourful abstract works by the German artist Paul Klee. A painter and also a musician and professor, the immersive exhibition will pay tribute to Klee’s pictorial world. It will take visitors from an opera overture in an imaginary city to an underwater concerto amidst gold and multicoloured fish, and the rhythm of its geometric structures.

Lastly, tens of corresponding portraits and puppets accompanied by Papageno’s song will conclude an enchanting interlude that combines painting and music.”

Tickets

Bassins de Lumières was scheduled to open on 17 April 2020. According to the organisers, thousands of tourists were expected. Due to Covid-19, and in accordance with government directives, the museum will remain closed until further notice.

Tickets can (or will) be found on the official website.

Opening times and information

  • Address: Impasse Brown submarine base at Colstoun, 33 000 Bordeaux, France.
  • Web: www.bassins-lumieres.com
  • Opening hours
    • April to September
      • 10 am – 7 pm: Monday to Thursday and Sunday
      • 10 am – 9 pm: Fridays and Saturdays
    • October to March
      • 10 am – 6 pm: Monday to Thursday and Sunday
      • 10 am – 7 pm: Fridays and Saturdays

Pictures

Simulation Gustav Klimt, d’or et de couleurs © akg-images / Erich Lessing ; © akg-images
Simulation Gustav Klimt, d’or et de couleurs © Culturespaces – Nuit de Chine ; © akg-images / Erich Lessing ; © akg-images
Occhs: Ocean Data – Culturespaces – Nuit de Chine ; © De Agostini Picture Library / E. Lessing / Bridgeman Images ; © akg-images / Erich Lessing
Source: https://www.instagram.com/bassinsdelumieres/

1 thought on “Discover the new Bassins de Lumières in Bordeaux”

  1. Impressive. I was planning to go to Bordeaux before the COVID situation. Now I want to go even more. Hopefully soon. Thank you for letting us travel from the comfort of our sofa.

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