The Maison de la Harpiste, so named after one of the figures represented on its walls, finally reveals part of its secret. A spectacular 2,000-year old puzzle that is slowly coming back to life as if by magic.
Try an imagine outstanding wall paintings and thousands of decorative fragments discovered during the archaeological digs were all part of a luxurious roman villa. While the first part of the reconstruction is finished, a wall painting 1-metre-high and 4.6 metres long, the work continues in the Camargue at Avignon castle to re-construct two rooms from the Maison de la Harpiste.
They will then be added to the permanent collections at the departmental Arles Antique museum in 2026. This amazing fresco is worthy of Pompei’s greatest paintings.
On a more contemporary note, Arles’ new cultural centre, Luma Arles, opened its doors this summer. Set in motion by the founder of the Foundation, collector and patron of the Recontres d’Arles festival Maja Hoffmann, this beacon of interdisciplinary creation organises exhibitions, live performances and conferences. The centrepiece is the Frank Gehry tower that rates as a work of art in its own right.
As a key element of Luma Arles, this 15,000 m² construction has numerous exhibition areas. The works presented are innovative and combine a wide variety of sourced materials such as multimedia and virtual reality. There are permanent collections such as that of the Emanuel Hoffmann Foundation, living archives and video creations. Entrance is free but advance booking required.
Luma came to life in 2008 and includes the refurbishment of 19th century industrial buildings for the Parc des Ateliers and a superb artistic centre that attracts artists from the world over. The delightful gardens with artistic installations are also worth a visit.
The Pays d’Arles has been nominated the cultural capital of Provence for 2022. A wealth of events will be programmed including festivals, heritage tours, gastronomy, exhibitions, street art and performing arts.
