Forget the typical tourist spiel. This Thursday, February 27, the iconic Monaco tourist train will become a moving stage for a unique artistic experience…
The Nouveau Musée National de Monaco (NMNM) is debuting “Follow the White Parrot. Stories and Other Tours,” a performance-art piece by Lidwine Prolonge that invites locals and visitors alike to see the principality in a completely new light.
Have you ever noticed the peculiar shape the tourist train’s route makes when viewed from above? Prolonge, with her whimsical and thought-provoking style, certainly did. Now, she’s turning that route into a journey of discovery.
At 17:00 this Thursday, passengers boarding the little train won’t just hear the usual historical facts. Instead, they’ll be immersed in a carefully crafted soundscape, with Prolonge’s voice weaving together cinematic and literary references, quirky anecdotes, and unexpected coincidences. It’s a “grand tour” in the truest sense, a 40-minute exploration of Monaco’s familiar landscape through an artist’s eyes.
“It’s about reconsidering the obvious,” explains a spokesperson for the NMNM. “Lidwine’s work encourages us to look closer, to find the hidden stories within the familiar.”
The performance, which the museum acquired in 2024, is named for the elusive “white parrot” – a metaphor for the unexpected twists and turns of perception. Prolonge’s goal is to make us question our assumptions and discover the magic in everyday moments.
The experience begins promptly at 17:00 at the Monaco Tours departure point, located in the parking lot in front of the Oceanographic Museum. Attendees are encouraged to arrive by 16:50.
For those who want to delve deeper into Prolonge’s artistic vision, a conversation with the artist will follow at 18:30 at the Pavillon Bosio, École supérieure d’arts plastiques de Monaco.
Participation in this extraordinary event is free, but space is limited. Interested individuals are encouraged to reserve their spot by emailing public@nmnm.mc.
