Pyramids and Painted Walls in the Limestone Quarry
Sometimes the simplest ideas provide the greatest experiences. How can an old limestone quarry come to life with images of Egypt and the Arab world? Today’s lesson: art can build a bridge between the past and the present, transforming even industrial spaces into stunning artistic experiences.
Until now, I didn’t quite understand why a photo series about Egypt would be of interest here. In this region, where the ten-meter-high walls of the abandoned limestone quarry could just as easily be filled with works by van Gogh, Cézanne, or Matisse. But in hindsight, it makes sense: this place resembles the inside of a pyramid, it just needs the walls to be painted!
In this former limestone quarry, just a few kilometers away from us, they hold unconventional art exhibitions. In the vast white rooms, they project 3D images. Essentially, it’s a forty-minute video program, but instead of being designed for a movie screen, it’s adapted to the entire surface of the cave-like quarry: the floors, ceilings, columns, rocks, and elevation changes. The walls come to life.
This time, they brought images and animations from the era of the Egyptian pharaohs. The 15-euro entry fee was definitely worth it. Afterwards, there was a fifteen-minute projection about the medieval Arab world. Let’s not forget: the Middle Ages were only “dark” in Europe. We can thank the barbarian Germans and Franks for leveling the scientific and cultural legacy of the Roman Empire. Today, we know that many Renaissance thinkers drew inspiration from Eastern cultures.
The projection about the Eastern world felt like flipping through Aladdin’s storybook, except these paintings and drawings existed in reality. This was a meaningful way to end a peaceful workday.
Les Baux de Provence, October 13, 2024.
On My Own After All?
