Le Havre transforms the city into an open-air museum for the summer

Until September 20th, the streets, quays and basins of Le Havre are hosting a new edition ofA Summer in Le HavreLaunched in 2017 to mark the city's 500th anniversary, this artistic event returns with seven new creations that enrich a collection already comprised of 24 permanent works. The objective remains the same: to invite residents and visitors to rediscover the city through the eyes of contemporary artists.

Monumental and participatory creations

This ninth edition particularly highlights several artists connected to the region. Among them, Charlotte Huard, a recent graduate of ESADHaR, presents coralliumA sculpture installed near the fish market. Created from 900 hand casts of Le Havre residents aged from 5 months to 93 years, the work evokes the fragility of coral reefs while symbolizing the connection between the inhabitants and their environment. Interviewed by This is NormandyThe artist explains that he wanted to provoke reflection on the disappearance of corals through this collective composition.

Another spectacular installation, Iceberg Gaspard Combes's work floats on the Bassin du Commerce, facing the Volcan. As tall as a four-story building, this monumental sculpture, already exhibited in Switzerland in a different format, has become the image of this edition. As he confided to This is NormandyThe artist knew from the outset that his installation would represent a real technical challenge in order to create a scene that was as immersive as it was poetic.

An artistic stroll through the heart of the city

The route also holds several other discoveries. The colorful sailboats of The OptimistsThe works, conceived by Lorène Dengoyan, are returning to the Bassin du Commerce after their initial presentation in 2022. Inspired by the maritime alphabet, the installation plays with the colors used to transmit messages at sea, as the artist explained to This is Normandy.

Other works invite us to take a fresh look at Le Havre's heritage. Guillaume Aubry, in particular, suggests rediscovering the exact viewpoint from which Claude Monet painted Impression, rising sunThanks to a monumental installation featuring a suspended mirror, the city is abuzz with activity. Meanwhile, Samuel Trenquier has transformed the Albert-René square with a series of colorful jars, some of which were created in collaboration with local residents, while Sophie Taillet has altered the area around Notre-Dame Cathedral with a system of moving mirrors. All of these creations contribute to the ambition of "A Summer in Le Havre": to create a dialogue between contemporary art and the history, architecture, and landscapes of the port city.