Fondation Carmignac

The Villa Carmignac is an encounter of art, nature, [water], light, and architecture. “Establishing a museum and a sculpture park on such a protected island is both a challenge and a dream.” From the entrance, visitors are immersed in the exhibition and the collection. The staircase leads under the surface, where Janaina Mello Landini’s Ciclotrama offers a unique physical experience. After the introductory room, Bruce Nauman’s 100 Fish Fountain creates a sensory prelude with its cool temperature, bright light, and the soothing sound of water. The exploration continues, as the underground space unfolds into a sequence of exhibition rooms where fluid spaces are divided by movable and detachable partitions, organizing and articulating the volume without confining it. A grid of floor inserts offers the possibility to install different configurations of picture rails according to the needs of the exhibitions. The water ceiling in the center allows natural light to enter, forming a true “scenographic heart.” Water and light are scenographic elements, structuring the visitor’s journey. The permanent Barcelo room, with its curved partitions, embraces the 16-meter panoramic canvas, enhancing the sense of immersion in this marine world. The ends of the galleries are fitted with luminous ceilings that mimic natural lighting. The scenographic approach is discreet, technical, subtly blending into the architecture to guide the artworks through light and space.