Near Rouen, Jumièges and its summer wonders
By Thierry Chion
Published on
As you approach the exceptional site, the white towers rise to a height of almost 50 m. The abbey of Jumieges (Seine-Maritime) “The most beautiful ruin in France” in the Boucles de la Seine Regional Park, was almost razed in the 19th century.e century. Yet it was one of the oldest and most important Benedictine monasteries in Normandy. Founded in the VIIIe century, it was inhabited by the monks until 1790 then the Cauchois made it their business, the abbey became a stone quarry to be built for 25 years! It was bought by a private individual in 1853 and then by the State in 1996. The Department of Seine-Maritime has owned it since 2007. No suitable reconstruction but regular waves of consolidation and protection of the masonry.
The Department quickly understood that beautiful ruins, even with a luminous past, would not be enough to attract and interest the public and lovers of old stones. Hence the establishment for several years of an entertainment program.
An architectural and cultural project
For 2022 “A Roof of silence” is an installation by Hala Wardé in a form appropriate to the site. This architectural and cultural project was born from a privileged collaboration between the architect Hala Wardé and the Lebanese poet and artist Etel Adnan. “It was conceived from one of the painted works, entitled Olivéa, a tribute to the goddess of the olive trees and by the observation in the hinterland of Lebanon of a set of 16 thousand-year-old olive trees, with trunks dug by the years, a living whole of a time out of time, explains Hala Wardé. This installation brings together several eras and disciplines, painting, poetry, music and photography, thanks to the intervention of Lebanese and international artists. A realization around emptiness and silence. In respect of the literary and artistic heritage of the abbey, we, designers at Jumièges, wanted to offer a variation of the work which puts poetry and music back at the centre. It is based on an original sound composition performed by the famous singer Mika. »
A romantic breath
On the route: stones, water, glass, ceramics placed on displays, light, music, white banners, photographic prints around the choir, representing 7 thousand-year-old olive trees. In their time, the illustrious guests of Jumièges, such as Victor Hugo, George Sand or Maurice Leblanc could have appreciated this romantic breath.
Since July 9, exhibition “At the edge of the world live our vertigo” in the abbey house. Sixteen Lebanese photographers and videographers, gripped by the extent of the collapse of their country after 15 years of civil war, had the strength to glorify their land of legends and myths and paradoxes, between wealth and poverty.
Exhibition curators Clémence Cottard-Hachem and Laure d’Hauteville.
Practical information :
Until November 6, 2022, daily from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Price: 5.50 to 7.50 euros; free under 26 years old.
From our correspondent André Morelle
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