La metropolitana di Parigi si espande scommettendo sull’arte contemporanea
Paris is undertaking the Grand Paris Express, a massive public transport project that will add 200 kilometers of new automated metro lines and 68 stations by 2031. The cultural program L'Art du Grand Paris has commissioned 70 permanent installations, pairing architects with artists such as Michelangelo Pistoletto, Daniel Buren, Sophie Calle, and Anselm Kiefer. The extended Line 14, already operational, showcases early examples of this collaboration, including works by Ned Kahn, Eva Jospin, and Iván Navarro in stations designed by architects like Dominique Perrault.
This project matters because it represents one of the most ambitious integrations of contemporary art into public infrastructure in Europe, transforming everyday transit spaces into cultural destinations. By embedding site-specific artworks in suburban stations, the Grand Paris Express aims to enhance urban connectivity while democratizing access to art, potentially setting a precedent for future large-scale transit developments worldwide.