It is a place that has often hosted cultural events: concerts, festivals, theatre, exhibitions… Le Prieuré de Vivoin, in Sarthe is now a plastic and contemporary art centerwhich will host two major exhibitions each year.
This cultural center in a rural area, known throughout the department, and whose building dates from the 11th century, had been the property of the Sarthe departmental council since the 1970s. But two years ago, the department decided to withdraw and entrust it to a private company. It was therefore Lancelot Durand who became the owner, associated with Jérôme Dauchez.
Two contemporary art exhibitions each year
From this Sunday, April 24, visitors will discover in three large vaulted rooms of the Priory, huge photographs. “There were these empty, imposing rooms and they had to be furnished”remembers Lancelot Durand. “We weren’t going to make a museum of 18th century decorative arts, it made no sense! With Jérôme Dauchez, my partner and patron of the art center, we thought it would be a great project to exhibit contemporary works.”
Each year, in spring and summer, two exhibitions of contemporary art will take place at the Prieuré de Vivoin. The first “The destiny of men”, by Gérard Rancinan and Caroline Gaudriault is on view until July 24. We discover fantastic texts and photographs, composed like paintings.
Photographs and texts that complement each other
There are nudes, many references to the Christian religion and the Biblebut this is neither provocation nor irony according to Gérard Rancinan: “I was born in this culture. I have always seen the artists of the 15th century: Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci. I look at this past, and I walk in the footsteps of my predecessors by looking at the current world.
I’m not trying to do anything critical of religion. I want to be part of this journey that comes to us from afar and will take us even further. – Gerard Rancinan
Gérard Rancinan is the photographer of the duo and Caroline Gaudriault the author, the calligrapher. His texts are revealed on different media throughout the exhibition and complement the images of his friend. For her : “we each have a different handwriting. We constantly submit our work to the other. We analyze our society, we look at it.”
The Priory of Vivoin is not just a center of contemporary art! It is also a place of reception for weddings, a classical music festival in July (July 7 to 10, 2022) and a vegetable garden that can be visited and should eventually supply fruits and vegetables for restaurants.