The Lympia Departmental Cultural Space in Nice is hosting the Anima(ex)musica exhibition until January 26, 2025. A universe where musical instruments take on a new form.
Initiated by the collective “tout/reste/à/faire,” the Anima(ex)musica exhibition showcases insect sculptures made from parts of defunct instruments, now animated and sound-producing. An experience that is both visual and auditory.
During the opening on Saturday, November 2, Charles Ange Ginésy, President of the Alpes-Maritimes Department, expressed his enthusiasm for this unique initiative combining art, recycling, and ecological reflection. He stated, “Today, we unveil an innovative, fascinating, and poetic exhibition that combines music, nature, ecological, and educational reflection.” For him, this “unusual bestiary” is an invitation to imagination and questioning, paying homage to the beauty of instruments and nature.
The collective, comprised of Mathieu Desailly, Vincent Gadras, and David Chalmin, breathes new life into instruments destined to be discarded. This group of artists transforms them into monumental insects. Old pianos, accordions, trumpets, and other damaged instruments are salvaged and metamorphosed into creatures that come to life through ingenious mechanisms. “This exhibition is an immersive experience, both enriching, fun, and ecological!” explains Marie-Amélie Ginésy, vice-president of the Alpes-Maritimes Music Conservatory. She emphasizes that this initiative shows the importance of recycling and creativity in environmental preservation.
The Conservatory of the Alpes-Maritimes actively participated in the project. Members mobilized by collecting from individuals, associations, and municipalities about thirty broken or unusable instruments from the region’s valleys. This collection provided the artists with the raw material for future creations. The goal is to highlight used objects to give them a second life.
Observe the creation live from Wednesday
Besides the exhibition, a live encounter with the artists is planned from November 6 to 10. During this week, Mathieu Desailly and Vincent Gadras will work on-site to create a new work, a “horseshoe crab.” A marine creature with blue blood, designed from recovered instruments. Visitors will thus have the opportunity to discover the creation process of these original artworks. A rare moment of exchange with the creators.
Anima(ex)musica is part of a committed cultural and ecological policy, notably within the framework of the Green Deal program. This exhibition is a concrete example of raising awareness about recycling and biodiversity preservation.
The exhibition is open from Wednesday to Sunday, from 10 AM to 5 PM, with free entry. It offers workshops and educational games for children, providing a playful approach to art and ecology. Join us at Lympia Space at 2 Quai Entrecasteaux in Nice.
