Monaco’s Directorate of Cultural Affairs has commissioned a new artistic installation designed to highlight the rich heritage of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo…
Created by young scenographers Maëva Lu-Chi-Vang and Théophile Sargenti, both trained at the École Supérieure d’Arts Plastiques de Monaco (Pavillon Bosio), the work has been installed at the Auditorium Rainier III.
The installation draws on a remarkable photographic archive originally displayed along the Salle Kreizberg. These images were taken by Bob Martin, a multifaceted artist who spent more than three decades both performing as a double bassist in the orchestra and documenting its life through photography. His collection, donated to the Principality and preserved by the Directorate of Cultural Affairs, captures unique moments with the conductors who have shaped the orchestra’s history.
Inside the Troparium space, the two artists imagined a scenographic composition exploring the relationship between the maestros and the orchestra. Frames and the names of the conductors are connected by coloured threads inspired by Jean-Michel Folon’s tapestry La Métamorphose, normally displayed on the same wall and currently undergoing restoration. Together, the elements form an abstract musical instrument symbolising the artistic world these conductors helped create.
The project reflects the Directorate of Cultural Affairs’ commitment to both preserving Monaco’s cultural heritage and supporting emerging artists. By combining photography, scenography and visual art, the installation invites visitors to rediscover the history of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo through a contemporary artistic lens.
Image: Philippe Fitte