The inauguration of the Cité des Arts in the heart of Besançon on 5 April 2013 was the culmination of a major project by the Franche-Comté Regional Council, the Greater Besançon Conurbation and the town hall.
of a major project undertaken by the Franche-Comté Regional Council, the Greater Besançon urban community and the town hall, and initiated in 2005 with the support of the French government. As a result, the Frac Franche-Comté now has an exceptional facility enabling it to fulfil its many missions, including promoting and conserving its collection, and raising awareness of contemporary art among the general public. It now has exhibition rooms, storage facilities for preserving its works, educational areas, a conference room, studios for artists in residence
and a documentation centre shared with its neighbour, the Conservatoire à rayonnement régional. An essential component of Kengo Kuma's work, the temporal dimension is evident in the architecture of the Cité des Arts: the passage of time is signified in particular by the treatment of light, the architect having created countless interstices in the façades to allow it to penetrate differently as the hours and seasons go by. The Frac could not have dreamt of a better symbiosis between an architectural gesture and the project of the entity that inhabits it, since since 2006 it has focused its collection on the question of Time.
Today, the Cité des Arts is celebrating its 10th anniversary. To mark the occasion, the Frac is inviting its architect, Kengo Kuma, to give a talk in which he will share his vision of contemporary architecture and his interest in museum projects. Born in 1954 in Yokohama, Kengo Kuma is considered to be one of the most important contemporary Japanese architects. The Cité des Arts is the first creation in France by this architect, renowned for his innovative work, his use of natural materials such as wood and his ability to create contemporary structures inspired by traditional Japanese aesthetics.
Kengo Kuma's projects are part of a philosophy that he describes as follows: "In traditional Japanese design, architecture takes the place of shitsurai (situation). You don't make a shelter, you take part in the world.
Bookings: www.frac-franche-comte.fr
An event made possible with the financial support of SMCI Éditeur immobilier, Besançon.
