As the gates of the Albert Kahn Museum open to the “Natures Vivantes” exhibition, visitors are invited to embark on a journey through time and nature. From April 30 to December 31, 2024, the museum celebrates the visionary banker-philanthropist Albert Kahn’s passion for the botanical world.
The exhibition showcases thousands of images captured in Kahn’s gardens in Boulogne and the now-vanished Cap-Martin. These images, produced during the first three decades of the 20th century, are not mere photographs; they are a testament to Kahn’s love for his horticultural creations. The autochrome technique brings to life the vibrant colors of the flowers, continuing the legacy of photography’s pioneers. Meanwhile, the cinematograph records the sway of branches in the wind, the gardeners at work, and guests meandering through these verdant paradises.
Kahn’s interest in plants was not only aesthetic but also scientific. The animated views of plant growth by Dr. Jean Comandon, captured in the Boulogne laboratory in the late 1920s, attest to this. The exhibition delves into this fascination with living organisms, which also inspires contemporary artists whose works—some created specifically for this event—engage in a dialogue with the museum’s photographic and botanical heritage.
Visitors can explore the exhibition through a rich and abundant path, interweaving photographs, films, objects, archives, and contemporary artworks. Designed by Studio Matters, the exhibition unfolds in seven scenes, leading from the lost site of Cap-Martin to the contemporary perspectives of the Boulogne garden.
The “Natures Vivantes” exhibition is more than a display; it is a poetic stroll through the collections of still and moving images of the Albert-Kahn Museum, set against the backdrop of the scenic garden of Boulogne and the vanished garden of Cap-Martin. It is an invitation to witness the evolution of garden art and its enduring impact on culture and imagination.
As we anticipate the opening of this exhibition, we are reminded of the power of gardens to transport us to different worlds and the role they play in our understanding of beauty and science. The Albert Kahn Museum offers a unique opportunity to experience this fusion of art and nature, promising an unforgettable visit for all who walk its paths.
For more information on visiting hours and ticket prices, please refer to the official museum website