In Lyon, the Fourvière museum hosts the “Celestial Lights” by the sculptor Marcoville

The date of the inauguration is symbolic. celestial lights, the new exhibition of the sacred art museum of Fourvière begins on April 1, on the eve of Holy Week. It is therefore not surprising to find one of the strong symbols of Christianity there: the fish. Or rather a whole school of fish: 27,000 in total! Delicate and translucent creatures, composed of chiselled and colored fragments of glass, works of the sculptor Marcoville. The artist, who has been working with the technique of cold glass for 40 years, offers a stroll through the Garden of Eden. Celestial Lights resembles a spiritual quest populated by Madonnas, cherubs and fish that accompany the visitor with their crystalline tinkling sound.

A play of reflections and lights created using glass, sometimes new, sometimes recycled. “I use the scraps to the end. The scraps from the scraps still have something for me. Until I only have a little piece of glass left lying around”, says Marcoville. A work of patience and precision to achieve a result as beautiful as it is fragile. “His material is glass and in this event, he tries to sublimate it”summarizes François Gauthier, curator of the exhibition.

The initiative of an NGO

Celestial Lights is an initiative of the Lyon-based humanitarian NGO love without bordersfounded in 1972. For 50 years, the association raises funds and materials for the benefit of African villages. Called “Ecole-Eau”, the action in partnership with the Fourvière museum aims to finance the construction of eight new boreholes and the construction of four schools in Africa. “The goal is to promote education and to dig wells that can supply drinking water to a certain number of people in Togo and Benin”explains Christophe Luneau, volunteer of the association.

The opening to the public being scheduled for April 1, each visitor equipped with a customized fish will be able to admire the enchantment of the place for free that day.

“Celestial Lights“, Musée de Fourvière. Exhibition from April 1 to October 1, 2023, every day from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. On April 1, 2023: 1 fish deposited = 1 free place.