Summer in Hyères

This Summer the villa Noailles arts centre is obliged to modify its normal programme. Instead it will offer — as always — a moment of discovery, by serving as a bridge between the history of the site and contemporary artists.

The exhibition “Charles and Marie-Laure de Noailles, a life as patrons”, which was inaugurated ten years ago, will be renewed with a presentation of emblematic artists from the 1920s to the 1960s, such as Man Ray, Dora Maar, Pierre Chareau and Eileen Gray, as well as a preview of the exhibition of portraits — most of which are previously unseen — that François-Marie Banier made of the illustrious couple, in homage of Marie-Laure de Noailles, who died exactly 50 years ago.

The exhibitions of the villa’s architecture and its original interior décor, along with the elements which enriched it, will echo the programme in Toulon, in particular the luminous column which Jean-Gérard Mattio designed in the 1960s for the Caisse d’Épargne in Toulon, accompanied by its archives.

Whilst waiting for the 15th edition of the Design Parade festival in 2021, the villa Noailles proposes to rediscover a selection of past winners and finalists of the competition, dating back to 2006, along with a selection of their most recent works.

Drawing, painting, contemporary writing, will all be showcased in an exhibition entitled “Heroes, Heroines” which will unite the portraits of workers from Hyères and Paris who have been on the front line during the confinement period which we have just traversed. A commission by the Villa in April 2020, involving more than 20 artists.

Finally, the Villa has invited young artists to Hyères for artistic residencies.
In the dovecot in the garden, Sara Favriau has created an installation of sculptures created in March and May 2020. Whilst Antoine Carbonne, during his ongoing residency, has focused upon a project around the figure of Marie-Laure de Noailles, which is featured in the swimming pool, the squash courts and the gymnasium.

In the centre of Hyères, the villa Noailles will inaugurate L’Annexe, its new location and mediation space at the heart of the Parcours des Arts cultural circuit and whose interior was designed by the duo, Superpoly, from Hyères.

Guest scenographers :
Kim Haddou and Florent Dufourcq, interior architects Grand Prix Design Parade Toulon 2018