Mougins: in the intimacy of an artistic destination
Only 15 minutes from Cannes, Mougins sculpts its new aspect in spring with an open air exhibition, Germinations by the artist Giuseppe Carta. Monumental works of art that can be discovered in the squares and small squares of this picturesque village where art is second nature. Stroll through this maze of cobbled streets where galleries, workshops, museums and the brand new photography center revive artistic expression in all its forms.
Mougins, an indelible artistic imprint
Modern art is intimately linked to the history of Mougins. A refuge for artists since the 1920s, this medieval village welcomed the emblematic figures of the surrealist movement. Man Ray, Jean Cocteau, Fernand Léger and in their wake, Picasso, have left an indelible mark here.
From this golden age, Mougins cultivates its cultural vocation and imposes itself as a destination where art cradles the alleys in the heart of a rich and typically Provencal historical heritage.
In the old village, this itinerary, mixing heritage and avant-gardism, is full of mythical places and unmissable events.
Mougins Monumental: a blooming of outdoor works of art
Each year, the city of Mougins erects monumental works of art in about twenty emblematic places in the town. This spring, a piquant exhibition has just opened, Germinations by the internationally renowned Italian artist, Giuseppe Costa. This series of fruits and vegetables is a real invitation to respect nature and arouses astonishment by their realism and their colossal size. During your wanderings in Mougins, you will discover, among other things, on the Place des Patriotes and the Place du Commandant Lamy, human-sized peppers that dance in front of a spectacular landscape of the hinterland. Strawberries, lemons, pomegranates or even olives and tomatoes, sculpted in polychrome resin, bronze or mirrored aluminum complete this market garden picture that has already seduced the whole world!
The Mougins Center of Photography: a new institution
A blend of contemporary photography trends, this new institution dedicated to the still image and to movement has been making a splash in the contemporary art world since its creation in July 2021 thanks to its bold programming. Built in the heart of the village in an old presbytery completely renovated, the Mougins Center of Photography promotes the creation and experimentation of international artists. On 3 levels, this minimalist space of 330 m2 invites you to a unique sensory experience on the French Riviera through temporary exhibitions evoking powerful current subjects.
Currently on view: “La clairvoyance du hazard” (“The clairvoyance of chance”) - Li Lang + Yuki Onodera. An exhibition through the prism of chance and the search for balance between mastery and letting go.
MACM: the largest private collection of Greek and Roman weapons and armor in the world!
Through a didactic staging, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Mougins is a delightful stopover where each floor promises the discovery of a civilization. A private initiative of a passionate art collector, the MACM houses, in the heart of an ancient building, more than 800 ancient, neoclassical, modern and contemporary works.
An itinerary through the ages where objects testify to the influence of ancient civilizations and contemporary works, from Peter Paul Rubens to Damien Hirst, express the fascination they arouse.
Villa Vaste Horizon: Picasso and the legend of the mural
At the entrance of the village, dressed in Pompeian red, Villa Vaste Horizon was the scene of festivities orchestrated by Pablo Picasso and his friends, Paul Eluard, Man Ray, Lee Miller and Dora Maar. Metamorphosed into an Italian restaurant, this Provencal residence whispers the work of this undisputed master of 20th century painting through photos and drawings that invade the walls.
The legend says that Picasso, unknown at the time, created a mural with the help of his friends. The owner of this hotel in the 1930s forced him to repair the outrage by covering it with lime. The recent renovations of this mythical villa do not reveal the secret but it is now possible to sit on the terrace for lunch or dinner during your stay.
