person Fabrice Bousteau

Edgar Morin: 'The state of creativity is a particular state of trance'

Edgar Morin : « L’état de créativité est un état de transe particulier »

French sociologist and philosopher Edgar Morin, known for his 'complexity theory,' discusses his personal relationship with art in an interview with Beaux Arts Magazine. Morin admits he rarely engages with contemporary art galleries but reflects on his early exposure to the Louvre and his belief that art stems from a shamanic, trance-like creative state. He elaborates on his theory that prehistoric cave paintings, such as those at Lascaux, were created by artist-shamans in a state of creative trance, blending rational correction with ecstatic inspiration.

By transforming the Pont-Neuf in Paris into a giant cave, JR will permanently change the reality of the city

« En transformant le Pont-Neuf à Paris en gigantesque caverne, JR va changer durablement la réalité de la ville »

French artist JR is transforming the Pont-Neuf in Paris into a giant cave throughout June, in what is described as likely the largest public art project in the world. The article also highlights Argentine artist Leandro Erlich, whose first Paris retrospective at the Grand Palais features twelve monumental installations. Both artists create works that alter perceptions of reality, with Erlich's earlier unrealized proposal to build a steel replica of Buenos Aires's obelisk in the suburbs sparking media controversy.

JR: 'Reflecting on the cave is to look at our deep humanity, our origins, art in general'

JR : « Réfléchir à la caverne, c’est se pencher sur notre humanité profonde, sur nos origines, sur l’art en général »

French artist JR is transforming the Pont-Neuf in Paris into a giant inflatable cave structure, titled "La Caverne du Pont-Neuf," set to debut on May 23, 2026. The project, conceived with producer Vladimir Yavachev, pays homage to Christo and Jeanne-Claude's 1985 wrapped Pont-Neuf, using inflatable techniques inspired by Christo's unrealized designs. JR's team built a prototype in a hangar at Orly, and the work involves complex permissions from the French president, the Paris mayor, and local authorities.

« Le monde entier semble s’être mis en mouvement, animé par une soif d’expériences culturelles »

The article explores the transformation of cultural travel for artists and art lovers, contrasting the arduous, unknown journeys of historical figures like Eugène Delacroix, Paul Gauguin, and Ella Maillart with today's accessible, curated experiences. It describes how contemporary artists such as Ólafur Elíasson, JR, and Marina Abramović now use travel itself as a medium, creating works that engage with climate change, social issues, and presence. Destinations like the Venice Biennale, AlUla in Saudi Arabia, Naoshima in Japan, and Le Voyage à Nantes are highlighted as hubs where art and travel merge into immersive, sensory experiences.

Art as seen by… Louise Bourgoin

L’art vu par… Louise Bourgoin

French actress Louise Bourgoin discusses her deep-rooted connection to the visual arts, stemming from her studies at the Beaux-Arts de Rennes. She reflects on her first art purchase in the Czech Republic, her obsession with line drawing, and how the abstract works of Mark Rothko have informed her acting performances. Bourgoin also reveals her upcoming project: illustrating a children's book written by Arthur Dreyfus, set for release in September.