June11
Dear Liza,
Just when we thought we’d seen all Montpellier had to offer, we stumbled across a thirteen-piece set of art installations placed all over the Old City.
Called Festival des Architectures Vives, this festival has run for 6 days every June since 2010. It invites architects from all over the world to create site specific installations on a certain theme. The art is installed in the courtyards of the ancient mansions of the Old City, behind grand doors that are usually closed.
The theme this year was “La Gourmandise”, which in English translates to gluttony. That is not accurate, however, because in French it just refers to the eating we do that is above what is needed for survival. You know, eating something just because it is tasty, or pretty, or fun.
Some of the pieces, like the cherry pie made of bouncy balls, are meant to be interacted with, and were, as we watched. Others, like the hundreds of antique spoons laid into sand, are most definitely “hands off”.
We found some pieces more engaging than others, and the secret was… no big surprise, The People! Each piece was explained by several local architecture students, and those who were enthusiastic made their piece more interesting. Those who spoke some English or were willing to engage with our bumpy French were also wonderful.
The piece I found the most thought provoking was called The Last Cheeseburger, and was a small room built of lumber and lined with empty water bottles representing the amount of water it takes to create a cheeseburger, from raising the beef to baking the bun, growing and preparing the pickles, lettuce, all the rest.
Inside the room is a cheeseburger on a plinth and covered with a bell jar. This represents the last cheeseburger made, using the last drop of water. It brings into relief the need to make wise choices about what we eat, for the health of our planet.
I am so glad we found this amazing art scavenger hunt! It let us meet some lovely people and see another side to this interesting city.
Next stop: Toulouse!
Love,
Grandma Judy
Dear Liza 