The Large contemporary art center opens its doors on Île Seguin at the Pointe des arts in Boulogne-Billancourt, transforming a former industrial wasteland into a 5,000-square-meter cultural venue. Designed by the Catalan agency RCR Arquitectes alongside the French firm Calq, the copper-tinted building marks a new chapter for the island following the 1992 closure of the historic Renault automobile factory.
Industrial Wasteland Becomes Pointe des arts
Automobile manufacturing anchored the island from 1919 until operations ceased in 1992, leaving behind decades of industrial infrastructure. Early redevelopment plans faced setbacks, including François Pinault’s 2005 decision to establish his contemporary art foundation in Venice rather than on the Parisian island. The 2017 inauguration of La Seine Musicale initiated the site’s cultural transition. The Large now extends that reconversion under the leadership of Emerige founder Laurent Dumas and director Paula Aisemberg.
Visitors entering the venue encounter monumental kinetic frieze paintings by Julio Le Parc, originally created in the early 1970s for the Renault factory cafeteria. The building incorporates a 14-meter-high exhibition hall intended for large-scale installations. The total investment for the Pointe des arts complex—which encompasses the art center, a cinema multiplex, and a hotel—reached 450 million euros.
Moteur Imaginaire Highlights the Inaugural Exhibition
Curator Cecilia Alemani, artistic director of High Line Art in New York, assembled 120 works by 55 artists from 23 countries for the inaugural exhibition titled Moteur imaginaire. The exhibition features 17 new commissions distributed across five chapters that examine the relationship between humans, machines, and society. The display places pieces from the Renault art collection, featuring artists such as Arman and Jean Tinguely, in dialogue with contemporary works that engage with automotive aesthetics.
Mohamed El Khatib’s installation R12 cathédrale presents a Renault 12 piled with inexpensive suitcases to reference vacation departures against the backdrop of migration and modest living conditions. Clément Cogitore contributes a silent video examining factory spaces, bodily identity, and labor history. Zhenya Machneva exhibits textile works titled Souvenirs cassés addressing the fragility of industrial remnants. Bertrand Lavier presents R23-F1, a yellow-and-black Formula 1 car repainted in his signature Van Gogh brushstroke style to merge competitive engineering with sculptural history.
Mayor Baguet Projects Two Million Annual Visitors
Boulogne-Billancourt mayor Pierre-Christophe Baguet projects an annual attendance of two million visitors for Île Seguin. The venue aims to integrate into the broader cultural geography of the Île-de-France region, supported by transport links slated for expansion under the Grand Paris Express project. Long-term viability will depend on maintaining site attendance and supporting commercial spaces once the initial opening period concludes.
What Is the New Art Center on Île Seguin?
What is the size of the new art center on Île Seguin?
The Large spans 5,000 square meters at the Pointe des arts on the eastern tip of Île Seguin.
Who designed the building for the Large?
The structure was designed by the Catalan architecture firm RCR Arquitectes in collaboration with the French firm Calq.
What is the title of the inaugural exhibition?
The opening exhibition is titled Moteur imaginaire, curated by Cecilia Alemani and featuring 120 works by 55 artists.
What was the total investment for the Pointe des arts complex?
450 million euros were invested into the complex, which includes the art center, a hotel, and a cinema multiplex.
Worth a look
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