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There are places where art seems to find its natural place. This summer, Silvacane Abbey becomes the stage for a unique encounter between heritage and contemporary creation with Murmures , a new exhibition by Alain du Pontavice.
Far from being a simple succession of paintings, the exhibition was designed to engage in a dialogue with the Cistercian architecture of the abbey. The monks' dormitory, the refectory, and the chapter house nearly forty works and several monumental installations, conceived in relation to the volumes, the stone, and the changing light throughout the day. Here, each space offers a different experience, somewhere between contemplation and immersion.
An abstract painter based in the South of France, Alain du Pontavice develops a body of work deeply inspired by natural materials. Oil, sand, metal, pigments… his creations play with textures and reliefs to give rise to inner landscapes where mineral, organic, and cosmic references intersect. This approach is nourished by an atypical journey, including learning calligraphy in Asia, meditation, and a fascination with wide-open spaces.
In this Romanesque monument founded in the 12th century, the exhibition takes on a special dimension. More than just a visit, Murmurs offers a true respite, where the silence of the abbey extends that of the artworks and invites visitors to slow down.
Murmurs – Alain du Pontavice
Silvacane Abbey, La Roque-d'Anthéron
From 12 July to 31 October 2026
Open every day except Monday, from 10am to 12:45pm and from 14pm to 18pm (last entries at 12pm and 17:15pm).
