Fleurs de fumée, projection monumentale… Normandie Impressionniste 2026 réactive le rêve des jardins de Monet
The sixth edition of the Normandie Impressionniste festival has launched, running through 2026 with 75 projects across 43 communes in Normandy, including 31 exhibitions. Curated by Philippe Platel, the festival is themed "Un possible jardin" (A Possible Garden), paying homage to Claude Monet, who died 100 years ago. Highlights include a monumental daytime pyrotechnic spectacle by Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang in Vernon, an exhibition of his gunpowder paintings at Mont-Saint-Michel, and shows by artists Lionel Sabatté (using mud from Monet's pond), Ange Leccia (video projections at Saint-Georges-de-Boscherville Abbey), and Sarah Moon (photographic works at Rouen's Centre photographique and Jardin des Plantes).
This edition matters because it marks the centenary of Claude Monet's death, positioning his legacy as a living inspiration for contemporary artists worldwide. By transforming Normandy into a creative laboratory, the festival reinforces the region's cultural identity and demonstrates how Impressionist principles of light, color, and experimentation continue to resonate in today's art, offering audiences a hopeful, meditative escape through nature and creativity.