Paint
Famous for his seascapes, Joseph Vernet (1714-1789) was a French painter, draughtsman and engraver. In 1753, King Louis XV of France commissioned him to paint the kingdom's major ports. In 1758, Joseph Vernet painted an oil on canvas depicting the Port of Bordeaux from the Salinières district. Vernet's seascapes are true testimonies of port life at the time.
Illustrating the most emblematic economic resource of Bordeaux and its region, Jean Dupas's monumental La Vigne et le Vin was one of four large canvases created to adorn the Bordeaux Tower at the 1925 International Exhibition of Decorative Arts in Paris. The other three canvases, L'Agriculture by Jean Despujols, La Forêt Landaise by François-Maurice Roganeau and Les Colonies by Marius de Buzon, are on display at the Musée d'Aquitaine in Bordeaux.
Art galleries and exhibition spaces
Bordeaux boasts a total of twelve museums, including six municipal ones dedicated to fine art, contemporary art, decorative arts, design, natural history and archaeology. The Musée d'Aquitaine presents the history of Bordeaux and its region, from prehistory to the present day. The CAPC, which has been awarded the "Centre d'Art Contemporain d'Intérêt National" label, is dedicated to raising awareness of art in all its forms. The Musée des Beaux-Arts brings together essential works from the 16th to the 20th century. Other Bordeaux attractions include the Musée des Arts Décoratifs et du Design (currently closed for renovation, scheduled to reopen in 2025), the MÉCA - Maison de l'économie créative et de la culture de la Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine -, Les Vivres de l'Art, the Fabrique POLA and theInstitut culturel Bernard Magrez. Not forgetting the Bassins de Lumières, the world's largest digital art center. The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Libourne is also well worth a visit, as are all the small art galleries where you can (re)discover the work of local artists.
Street Art
More than ever, the trend has contaminated Gironde! On the walls, A-MO, Selor, Alber, Charles Foussard, Monsieur Poulet and Jean Rooble, Zarb, Lüle and Môka 187 express themselves and color the metropolis. But it would be simplistic to reduce street art to places like Darwin, the M.U.R (in Chartrons), or the Ravezies and Grand Parc districts of Bordeaux. Open your eyes wide and let yourself be surprised as you wander around. Be alert and curious, as their frescoes, which explore universes ranging from abstract to humorous to wildstyle (a set of intertwined letters), are sometimes durable, sometimes ephemeral. Young and old alike are sure to marvel. A highly original way to discover a city!
Sculpture
While Jaume Plensa's sculpture Sanna may leave the Place de la Comédie in Bordeaux in 2027, the most famous of all whales seems to have taken up permanent residence off Arcachon's central beach. Traditionally submerged in early spring between the Thiers and Eyrac jetties to mark the opening of the summer season, this whale tail donated by Belgian artist Emmanuel Janssens Casteels changes color every year. Gironde has no shortage of monumental works of art like this one!
Created in the wake of storm Klaus, which ravaged a large part of the Landes de Gascogne massif, the Forêt d'Art Contemporain was conceived as a regional itinerary. Since then, and with more to come, some twenty works have sprung up in Gironde and Les Landes. Each of them tells the story of the region...
A Detail
Born in Pessac in 1978, Benoît Maire studied both art and philosophy. Represented by Parisian gallery Cortex Athletico, he is an artist of international renown. History, psychoanalysis, mythology and mathematics are fabulous sources of inspiration for this former resident of the Palais de Tokyo. As part of the "1% artistic" program, Un Détail was selected for installation on the outdoor forecourt of MECA in Bordeaux. Produced by the Cyclops foundry in Mérignac, this 3-metre-high sculpture represents a half-head of Hermès. "As placed, the half-head seems to be cut off by the building itself. [...] This bronze mirror also serves to reflect the exterior, enhancing the photogenic views of the entire site," explains the artist.
Focus on peri-urban shelters
Architectural and artistic feats, these peri-urban refuges are the brainchild of the urban design collective Bruit du Frigo, in collaboration with the Zébra3 association and Buy-Sellf. La Station orbitale, Neptunea, Le Hamac, Les Guetteurs, La Belle étoile, Le Haut perché, Le Prisme, Le Nuage, Le Tronc creux, La Vouivre and La Nuit Américaine have been set up in the four corners of the Bordeaux metropolis. For one night, local residents and visitors are invited to stay in these unusual accommodations free of charge. Unique in Gironde! The Refuges project earned the Bruit du Frigo association the 2016 Periurban Innovation Award in the "Living together, social cohesion and culture" category.
Towns of Art and History
The towns of Bordeaux, in 2009, and La Réole, in 2013, were awarded the "Ville et Pays d'Art et d'Histoire" (Town and Country of Art and History) label. Awarded by the French Ministry of Culture, this label recognizes towns with a rich heritage. The Centre d'interprétation de l'architecture et du patrimoine de Bordeaux, Bordeaux Patrimoine Mondial, in the superb setting of the Place de Bourse, offers visitors the chance to learn more about the history of the city once known as "la Belle endormie". And take advantage of the city walks to discover the city. In the Entre-deux-Mers region, La Réole is France's smallest "Town of Art and History". A veritable fortress overlooking the Garonne, the "city of 9 festivals" takes us on a journey back in time through the narrow, winding streets of its old town.
