Par Margaux Rousset
Published on
See my news
One year before the 5th edition of the festival Impressionist Normandythe organizers unveiled this Thursday, March 16, 2023 at New Yorkon the occasion of the trip of a delegation from the Normandy region to UNITED STATESthe first two events to take place in 2024: two exhibitions by American artists James Whistler et Robert Wilson.
“In 2024, we will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first Impressionist exhibition which took place in 1874 in Paris. This movement, which began in Normandy, was greatly supported by Americans where there are many collectors, which is why we wanted to promote American creation with these two exhibitions,” explains Catherine Morin-Desailly, vice-president of the Region. in charge of the file.
A longer festival over 6 months
2024 is going to be a busy year with, in particular, the 80th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy and the Olympic Games from Paris. “We are going to have an exceptional year, which is why we wanted to present a more international event”, adds Philippe Platel, the director of Normandy Impressionist. “And the influences on the movement were broader than France, with the United States, Japan, Italy or Spain. »
For the occasion, the festival will be more long : it will extend over six months between March 22 and September 22, 2024. “We will follow the spirit of Impressionism by being in two different seasons, spring and summer, where we will offer different events. »
Two American exhibitions in Rouen
The two American exhibitions will be concurrent, between May 24 and September 22. They will both take place at Rouen. The exhibition dedicated to the late 19th century painter (1834-1903), James Whistler, will be presented at Museum of Fine Arts from Rouen. “His work had a great influence on European modernity”, according to Philippe Platel.
An avant-garde director and visual artist of the 1970s and 80s, the American Robert Wilson was entrusted with the summer screening of “Cathedral of Light” in Rouen. “Rouen Cathedral is particularly interesting”, slips the artist in a video.
It is the highest point in the city. This piece of architecture inspired with its tremendous light.
Came last year in Normandy to discuss this project, Robert Wilson will be back end of June with his team to create the future video mapping which will parade at nightfall next year.
More than 150 events throughout Normandy
If the first two events of Normandy Impressionist 2024 have just been unveiled, the others will be unveiled at the end of 2023. “There will be between 150 and 200 events all over Normandy”, specifies Philippe Platel, the director of the festival. for a year and a half. Normandy Impressionist is unique in France, given its format with events in towns and villages across the region. »
The 2024 edition will thus take place in Rouen, Caen, Le Havre, Trouville, Cabourg or Giverny with a multidisciplinary format: exhibitions, cinema, dance, evenings, visual art or conferences are notably programmed. The organizers are also going to repeat last year’s “Impressionist Nights” experience, which welcomed 50,000 visitors over three days over a weekend in August 2022. last year, that allowed us to attract 70% of people who had never been to the festival, which is very interesting. »
Ongoing partnerships with the famous Met and MoMa museums
This trip to the United States was also an opportunity for the Impressionist Normandy delegation to forge partnerships with important American museumsas the Met (New York equivalent of the Louvre) or the MoMa (contemporary art) in New York, as well as a museum in Washington. “These meetings with the management of the Met and the MoMa were very interesting for building ties for 2024 and the future, the feedback is very positive”, continues Catherine Morin-Desailly. Loans of paintings are notably part of the exchanges currently under negotiation.
Partner of Orsay museum in Paris, the Normandy Impressionist Festival would like to extend its links to Canada, Japan and Australia as well. “We are reaching maturity for this festival created in 2010. It is now intended to shine in the world. »
More than 1.5 million visitors expected
Created in 2010, the festival attracted a million visitors during the last edition in 2020. “A complicated year due to the Covid where there were no foreigners. The festival record is 1.5 million visitors. With an extended edition in 2024, the organizers aim to at least equal their record. “We hope there will be as many people as possible, but it’s true that our goal is to attract more than 1.5 million visitors. »
Follow all the news from your favorite cities and media by subscribing to Mon Actu.
