Atelier des Lumières – The First Digital Art Museum in Paris
L’ Atelier des Lumières is the first Digital Art Museum in Paris, proposing unique immersive art exhibitions for all. This cultural space and hidden gem in Paris opened in April 2018 with an exhibition dedicated to Gustav Klimt and Hundertwasser. From 12 February 2021 to 2 January 2022 L’Atelier des Lumières will make us dream again with the Catalan painter Salvador Dalí.
Despite its recent inauguration, l’Atelier des Lumières and its digital art installations is already on the list of best things do to in Paris! Let us tell you why you should add L’ Atelier des Lumières to your Paris Bucket List.
An Immersive Art Experience
First of all, what is Immersive Art? Immersive art is the art that happens when the viewer becomes a whole with the exhibit. In Immersive Art exhibitions, the spectator becomes part of the artwork, walking literally inside an artwork or interacting with it.
Usually, Immersive Art experiences are mind-blowing experiences that involve different media, like sound, images, or scents.
Salvador Dalí at Atelier des Lumières Paris (12 February 2021 to 2 January 2022)
In 2021, the Atelier des Lumières will be lighted-up by the unique works of Salvador Dalí, the Catalan master who traveled and invented several artistic styles.
The immersive exhibition ‘Dalí, l’Énigme Sans Fin’ (Dalí, the endless enigma) looks back to more than 60 years of creative work of one of the most world-famous Catalans.
Born in Figueres, in Catalonia, Salvador Dalí was one of the leading exponents of Surrealism. His best-known work, The Persistence of Memory, is one of the most famous Surrealist paintings.
The entire digital exhibition is accompanied by the music of Pink Floyd. Experimenting without ceasing and rejecting any rational mechanism, these two icons of painting and music share an astonishing visual imagination where obsessive visions and technical virtuosity mingle.
Current and Past Exhibitions at Atelier des Lumières Paris
Monet, Renoir… Chagall at Atelier des Lumières
Monet, Renoir… Chagall. Voyages en Mediterranée will be performed at Atelier des Lumières in Paris until 3 January 2021.
This fantastic exhibition is an immersion in the masterpieces of some twenty artists: Renoir, Monet, Pissarro, Matisse, Signac, Derain, Vlaminck, Dufy, Chagall.. and their relationship with the Mediterranean Sea, source of inspiration for many of their works.
Vincent Van Gogh at Atelier des Lumières
After the great success of the exhibition on Klimt and Hundertwasser, l’Atelier des Lumières hosted Van Gogh, Starry Night dedicated to the Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh. It was incredible to see Van Gogh’s landscapes and colors and be part of his starry night.
This exhibition is also featured in Netflix’s show Emily in Paris and the images of Emily, Camille, and Gabriel enjoying the performance make us miss Van Gogh even more!
The exhibition was accompanied by two shorter exhibitions: Dreamed Japan, an Immersive Journey into Japanese Art, and Verse by Thomas Vanz.
Gustav Klimt at Atelier des Lumières
For the opening of this Digital Art museum, Atelier des Lumières chose an exhibition dedicated to Gustav Klimt and Hundertwasser. Their colorful, iconic paintings were projected on the totality of the former factory, floor included.
In this Immersive Art exhibition, we were plunged into the dark, surrounded by enchanting music, and suddenly we found ourselves immersed in Klimt’s dreamy world or inside Gustav Klimt’s landscapes as if we were part of them.
We enjoyed their most iconic paintings, like the portraits or “his” women.
Also, we loved the feeling of being laid on the floor surrounded by the Klimt landscape and playing with his leaves and flowers. But we especially liked Gustav Klimt Tree of Life: watching how this tree was growing and developing its branches at the sound of the music was just magical.
About L’Atelier des Lumières in Paris
Did we tell you that we have a crush on recycled industrial places?
L’Atelier des Lumières is located in the 11th District of Paris, a working-class neighborhood with a dense fabric of artisanal businesses. Originally, L’Atelier des Lumières was a foundry named Le Chemin-Vert, founded in 1835 by the Plichon brothers.
Jacques-François-Alexandre and Hilaire-Pierre Plichon, were founders during the Industrial Revolution, and they wanted to meet the high demand for good quality cast iron parts by the navy and railway companies. The new foundry Le Chemin Vert covered a space of 3,000m2 and employed 60 workers.
Le Chemin-Vert was successfully managed by the Plichon family for four generations. Unfortunately, the international crisis of 1929 struck hard also in France and after 100 years of service, the foundry had to close in 1935.
The site and buildings were sold to the Martin family, the current owner, and the foundry became a tool manufacturing company. The new company operated until 2,000.
The place was re-discovered in 2013 by the President of Culturespaces. This association had already a similar space, Carrières de Lumières Art Centre in Provence, and they were looking for a place to create a similar Immersive Art museum in Paris.
The Martin family loved the proposal and agreed to rent out the great hall and its annexes in 2014. After 4 years of major renovation works, L’Atelier des Lumières opened its doors on April 18 as a Digital Art center with the triple exhibition Klimt – Hundertwasser.
Immersive Art Experiences with AMIEX Technology ®
Atelier des Lumières’ immersive exhibitions are based on AMIEX Technology®. This technology consists of thousands of images of works of art that are digitized, projected in very high resolution, and animated to the rhythm of the music to create a poetic environment.
Of course, the image – space – music combination is as important as the artworks themselves. AMIEX® exhibits are tailor-made and they are perfectly adapted to the spaces where they work. The result, if well done, is a unique and mind-blowing experience, another way to experience art in Paris.
Atelier des Lumières Paris – Our Best Tips
» L’Atelier des Lumières is located in Paris 11, at 38 Rue Saint-Maur (metro station Père Lachaise, lines 2 and 3). It opens every day from 10 am to 6 pm and on Friday and Saturday from 10 am to 10 pm.
» There’s a limited number of visitors per time slot. We suggest booking your tickets online and in advance to avoid long lines or a “sold out” panel when you get there.
» For a unique experience, choose the less crowded time slots. During the booking process online you can see how many tickets are still available per time slot. Time slots during lunchtime (12 pm to 2 pm) are the best.
» Bring water and a couple of snacks with you. The 3 exhibitions last less than one hour in total but you will want to watch them again for sure!
» Don’t forget your camera! You can take as many pictures and videos as you want as long as you don’t use the flash. Because it is very dark inside, we suggest the use of a small tripod.
» Watch the exhibition from different places and angles. Sit, lay on the floor, see it from the mezzanine, be part of the artworks. Stay silent and embrace the moment.
» Remember to read the panels with information about the artists and their context or artistic movement to get the full picture. The panels are located on the mezzanine, behind the wall.
Have you been to Atelier des Lumières in Paris? Did you like this alternative way to enjoy art?
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