Mémoire des lieux in Monaco: an exhibition exploring memory and urban transformation

MONACO – What remains of a place when its architecture changes, a landscape is transformed or a building disappears? This question lies at the heart of “Mémoire des lieux”, a new exhibition presented by the Direction des Affaires Culturelles de Monaco, running from October 1, 2026 to January 24, 2027 at the Salle d’exposition du quai Antoine Ier.

The exhibition explores the memory of Monaco’s territory through photographs, artworks, audiovisual installations and contemporary creations. It invites visitors to look at Monaco not only through its architecture and heritage, but also as a city in constant transformation, where urban change, personal experiences and stories contribute to a living collective memory.

Monaco between heritage, transformation and memory

The central theme of “Mémoire des lieux” is the relationship between places and memory. Monaco is a territory profoundly shaped by urban development and by the challenge of balancing heritage preservation with the evolution of the city.

Through a range of artistic approaches, the exhibition examines what can survive the physical transformation of a place. Architecture, stories, images and personal perceptions become traces of a history that continues to evolve.

The exhibition therefore offers an alternative perspective on Monaco: beyond its best-known landmarks, it also explores less visible spaces, infrastructure, routes and environments that form part of everyday life in the Principality.

An exhibition curated by Célia Bernasconi

The exhibition is curated by Célia Bernasconi, Director of the Institut du Patrimoine. The project forms part of the institution’s work to preserve and promote the works and testimonies that have contributed to Monaco’s cultural history.

Memory is presented not as something static, but as a heritage in constant dialogue with the present. The works on display invite visitors to consider how residents perceive, experience and remember the city’s spaces.

Gabriel-Noé Rosticher offers a new perspective on Monaco

Among the artists featured in the exhibition is Gabriel-Noé Rosticher, an invited artist and graduate of Pavillon Bosio in 2023.

His artistic practice focuses on listening and on the perception of the surrounding environment. Video, installations and three-dimensional works become tools for exploring urban spaces, paying attention to both their visible features and their sonic and intangible dimensions.

For “Mémoire des lieux”, Rosticher has created a new film dedicated to Monaco. The work offers a sensory mapping of the Principality, moving through places and infrastructures that usually remain in the background of conventional representations of the city.

Tunnels, galleries, roads, infrastructure and areas undergoing urban transformation become part of the artist’s audiovisual exploration. The result is a different portrait of Monaco, shaped not only by monuments and panoramic views, but also by passages, sounds, routes and transitional spaces.

Scenography by Pavillon Bosio

The exhibition design also plays an important role in shaping the visitor experience. The scenography for “Mémoire des lieux” has been created by Louise Chatelain and Théophile Sargenti, as part of the “Décors” programme at Pavillon Bosio.

Their design accompanies visitors through a journey that connects the different works and the multiple layers of urban memory explored by the exhibition.

Where to see “Mémoire des lieux” in Monaco

The exhibition will be open to the public for almost four months, offering visitors the opportunity to discover a distinctive perspective on Monaco’s heritage and urban transformation.

Mémoire des lieux
Location: Salle d’exposition du quai Antoine Ier, Monaco
Dates: October 1, 2026 – January 24, 2027
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Admission: Free

The exhibition offers an opportunity to experience Monaco through the relationship between contemporary art, heritage and urban memory, focusing on the places and traces that continue to tell the story of the Principality even as the city changes.