“Drawing is a meeting tool”.
Armelle Antier, artist and interior designer, is convinced of this.
She presents her drawings, and her works in collaboration with nine other artists, on the ground floor of the dungeon of the Château de Vincennes.
Since March 21 and until June 21, as part of the Spring of Drawing, the “Vincennes Dessine” exhibition allows visitors to (re)discover the city.
“We can change a place by the perception we have of it”
With this project, the artist wishes to “give back a new presence” to certain places.
She first drew the rue du Lieutenant Hertz where the workshop is located, then the parallel street, and the surrounding streets... Until the city center.
Under his pencil, places known to local residents passed: rue Jean-Moulin, the Berlioz café, Place Bérault... And also more emblematic places like the castle.
“From May to August 2023, I would pull up my stool in the morning and settle in for the day to draw.”
Drawings by Armelle Antier exhibited at the Château de Vincennes.
On the right, the drawing represents the church of Vincennes.
LP/Domitille Robert
“It was very pleasant to draw in Vincennes,” comments the artist who lives in Ivry and notes “a real difference in atmosphere and in the way of living in the place.”
Armelle has worked here since her Openbach workshop moved a year ago to a location owned by RATP Habitat, after six years in the 13th arrondissement.
Nine collaborating artists in the exhibition
In the six spaces on the ground floor of the castle, visitors with an entry ticket can admire the drawings of Armelle Antier and works combining several techniques created with nine artists, including one she met while she was drawing Place Bérault, still on the theme of the medieval town.
Armelle, who wanted to create new works, worked with specialists in ceramics, porcelain, sculpture, engraving, photography... the principle being to “bring the works into dialogue with the drawings”.
The sketch that inspired the work will be mentioned next to it.
Armelle Antier prepares her drawings to exhibit them.
LP/Domitille Robert
“It’s important to me that there is a relationship between the work and the space it occupies,” she adds.
For example, the work displayed in the latrine will represent a waterfall to stay with the theme of water.
But for the cell of the Marquis de Sade, “I thought I wouldn’t put anything in, none of my drawings fit into this universe,” says Armelle.
Until Matthias Bourdelier, a designer, suggested that he create a work depicting a mating swan.
“It’s quite violent, but it’s consistent with the space.
We even have local roots with the Bois de Vincennes.”
Also read “I am amazed”: experience the Château de Vincennes in the time of kings thanks to augmented reality
The Center des monuments nationaux, the castle and RATP Habitat financed part of the exhibition, which the artist completes with patronage and sponsorship.
However, she still needs funds to complete her budget, which she estimates at around 40,000 euros.
To support the project, a link is active until April 21 and a raffle is organized, with the original drawing of the Château de Vincennes as a prize.
Access to the exhibition is included in the castle entrance ticket.
“Vincennes Dessine”, from March 21 to June 21, at the Château de Vincennes.
Events concerning the exhibition can be found on
explore paris
.