The NMNM (Villa Sauber) presents Latifa Echakhch - "The Mechanical Garden"

©Direction de la Communication / Manuel Vitali

Until 28 October 2018, the Villa Sauber (NMNM) is hosting an exhibition by Latifa Echakhch entitled "The Mechanical Garden" ("Le jardin mécanique"):  inspired by the tradition of the romantic landscape, characterised by representations of abundant Nature and architecture in ruins, "The Mechanical Garden" combines distant memories of Monte-Carlo’s earliest days with the artist's impressions and childhood memories.  Latifa Echakhch was born in Morocco and grew up in Aix-les-Bains, where her father worked at the Grand-Cercle Casino, which has a prestigious theatre with many similarities to the Opéra Garnier.

Latifa Echakhch made several visits to the Principality - she drew inspiration from various iconic places, such as the Opéra Garnier, the Villa Sauber and the Exotic Garden, as well as from the NMNM's collections, including models for stage sets and Mrs de Galéa's automata, to design an exhibition that brings our perception of time and space into play and hints at the possibility of the survival of Nature in a post-apocalyptic setting.

In connection with this exhibition, the NMNM is presenting Geological Salon 1 (Salon Géologique I), an installation by artist Yto Barrada in association with the designer Stéphanie Marin, in the reading room - mediation space at the Villa Sauber.

Note that after this exhibition the Villa Sauber will close for several years of renovation work.