Art at the University
The Sète-based collective Microclimax, consisting of Carolyn Wittendal, a visual artist and designer, and Benjamin Jacquemet, an architect and artist, is presenting “Chimæra,” a multi-site exhibition marking the end of their residency.
Opening reception on Thursday, April 2, at 12:30 p.m. at the Science University Library on the Triolet Campus of the University of Montpellier.
Exhibition runs through June 19 (Science University Library – Triolet Campus – Law, Political Science, Economics, and Management University Library – Jardin des Plantes – School of Law – School of Dentistry).
Centered on the theme of fusion, the Microclimax artist residency represents a true exploratory marathon that began in November 2014 with an initial immersion phase. Throughout the various stages of the residency, the artist duo drew inspiration from visits to and discoveries of various iconic locations on campus.
The fruitful and inspiring encounters and exchanges with students, faculty, and Professors sparked the creative process behind more than ten works. The Chimæra exhibition offers us a unique encounter between art and knowledge that extends throughout the entire University of Montpellier.
University of Montpellier: A Haven for Artists
The University of Montpellier maintains an artist-in-residence program that involves immersing an artist or an artistic team in the academic and scientific environment, from which they draw inspiration to create one or more works.
Since 2010, the former University of Montpellier 2 has organized five artist-in-residence programs, primarily with visual artists. The University of Montpellier’s artist residencies have received support from the DRAC (Regional Directorate for Cultural Affairs) since 2013/2014.
Artist residencies in academic settings serve a dual purpose: enabling artists to produce original works and raising awareness of artistic expression within the university community.
The university thus acts as a host institution that supports the artist in the design and production of one or more works: it provides the artist with the necessary technical and financial resources and facilitates contact between the artist and the various university representatives who may be involved, to a greater or lesser extent, in the production phase of the works (departments, programs, Professors, etc.).
In line with this collaborative approach, the invited artists commit to an active presence within the host institution and offer outreach activities for the university community.
Two such outreach events are scheduled with artists from the Microclimax collective: Thursday, April 9, and Friday, April 10, as part of the 2015 Arts and Culture Days in Higher Education (April 8–10).
Two meetings with the artists will take place on Thursday, April 30, at 1:00 p.m. at the Sciences University Library on the Triolet campus and at 2:30 p.m. at the Law, Political Science, Economics, and Management University Library on the Richter campus.
The exhibition can also be visited by appointment.
Contact: Art & Culture Department 04.67.14.48.34 or 06.37.32.63.79
The Art & Culture Department is a valuable addition resulting from the merger: originating from the Culture Division of the former University of Montpellier 2, it infuses the new University of Montpellier with artistic and cultural vitality and draws its richness from the diversity of its campuses, student bodies, and academic disciplines. This department spearheads the university’s artistic and cultural policy, which it implements and seeks to develop and reinvent day by day.