Go to Porquerolles for 2021 Fondation Carmignac Exhibit
For its fourth season, the Villa Carmignac presents The Imaginary Sea (La Mer imaginaire), an ideal subject for this idiosyncratic gallery: part of it is housed in an old building with views to the sea below, while the other part is underground, a modern exhibition space beneath a glass-bottomed pool. The water casts magical ripples across the gallery walls. Continue reading here for the Aixcentric article.
With its ensemble of modern and contemporary works, The Imaginary Sea intends to celebrate the sea as a precious and evocative resource, swarming with known and unknown lives, opened to wondrous, strange and unexpected things, and whose immensity has always fed our imagination. ~ Fondation Carmignac website
Important Vistor Notes
- It’s a short walk (10-15 minutes) to the villa from the port
- Book your tickets online in advance as the number of visitors is limited
- Inside the gallery, you will be asked to remove your shoes
- No dogs
- No baby strollers
- Make sure to spend time in the Louis Benech designed garden. Plants include native olive and citrus trees along with exotics. Enjoy the outdoor “gallery” filled with works by a group of carefully selected artists, including Jean Denant, Tom Friedman, Jaume Plensa, and many more.
Fondation Carmignac Porquerolles
The Fondation Carmignac was originally established as a corporate foundation in 2000. Today there are now over 300 artists’ works in the collection. In addition, the Foundation provides an annual photojournalism award, valued at 50,000 Euros, to the successful applicant. For the backstory of this fabulous art centre, please read Foundation Carmignac Modern Art Another Reason to Visit Porquerolles.
Fondation Carmignac (website)
Open to the public daily until October 17, 2021
Guided tours Tuesday – Sunday at 14h
Beautifully Wild Porquerolles
Porquerolles is the biggest of three small islands that make up the Îles d’Hyères or Les Îles d’Or (Golden Islands), located just off the coast from Hyères. The island of Porquerolles is small at 7km long and 3km wide. Since 1820, there has been a small village, and a lighthouse was installed in 1837. In 1912, Francois Fournier purchased the island and planted 200 hectares of vineyards (some of the first wines to be classified, Côtes de Provence). In 2019, the luxury fashion brand Chanel acquired the Domaine de L’Ile, a 50-acre estate on Île de Porquerolles.
In 1971, the French State purchased 80% of the land to preserve the land from overbuilding. Today development remains strictly controlled, vehicle traffic is limited, and permanent inhabitants remain low. The Île de Porquerolles is part of the national park – Port-Cros Parc National.
You take the ferry from just outside of Hyères at Giens Port de La Tour Fondue (15-minute ride) or Le Lavandou (40-minute trip) to access the island. Shuttle details here.
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