Sans contrefaçon — Anatomie d'un vêtement : première séquence, inaugurates a long-term curatorial program conceived by independent curator Marianne Derrien. Drawing inspiration from the history of the Charles-Michels building—once a department store dedicated to fabrics, clothing, and accessories—the exhibition examines the garment as a space where intimate, social, political, and environmental narratives intersect. Bringing together artists whose practices engage with textiles and material culture, the exhibition considers clothing as both a second skin and a cultural artifact, exploring its role in shaping identities, transmitting histories, challenging norms, and reflecting the complex networks of production, consumption, and exchange that define contemporary society.
Within this context, Raphaël Barontini presents a selection of his renowned textile works, including monumental installations, banners, capes, and costumes that have become central to his artistic practice. Drawing on archival research, Caribbean and African histories, and traditions of ceremonial dress, Barontini constructs immersive textile environments that reimagine historical narratives through vibrant color, layered imagery, and performative forms. By transforming garments into powerful symbols of memory, resilience, and collective identity, his work highlights the capacity of textiles to carry stories across generations and geographies, offering new perspectives on representation, heritage, and cultural transmission.
Exhibition Dates: June 13 - September 12, 2026
