An Artistic Installation Celebrating the History of the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra

The Direction des Affaires Culturelles of Monaco has commissioned a new artistic project from two young scenographers trained at the École Supérieure d’Arts Plastiques de Monaco – Pavillon Bosio, Maëva LU-CHI-VANG and Théophile SARGENTI. The installation has been conceived for the Auditorium Rainier III and is based on a series of photographs of conductors of the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, previously displayed along the Kreizberg Hall.

These photographs come from a collection belonging to the Direction des Affaires Culturelles, donated to the Principality by the artist Bob MARTIN. Both a double bassist in the orchestra and a photographer, Martin captured for more than thirty years unique moments in the life of the ensemble, leaving behind an invaluable visual testimony of its history.

Inside the Troparium of the Auditorium Rainier III, the two young artists designed a scenographic installation that narrates the relationship between the Maestros and the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra through an original display of photographs.

The frames and the names of the conductors are connected by colored threads, inspired by the palette of the tapestry “La Métamorphose” by Jean-Michel Folon, which is usually displayed on that wall and is currently under restoration.

Together, these threads and images create a kind of abstract musical instrument, symbolizing the musical world shaped by the conductors who have led the orchestra. The woven composition seems to bring back the memory of these photographs and the remarkable maestros who marked the orchestra’s history.

This artistic commission reflects the Direction des Affaires Culturelles’ commitment to promoting the cultural heritage of the Principality while also supporting emerging artists. The project also expresses a desire to bring different artistic disciplines into dialogue, encouraging curiosity and offering new ways to engage with cultural memory.

The artists

Théophile SARGENTI is a scenographer and visual artist currently in residence at the Ateliers du Quai in Monaco as part of the Décor program of Pavillon Bosio.

Passionate about architecture, he first studied at the École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Marseille (ENSA) before turning toward scenography. In June 2025, he obtained his DNSEP from Pavillon Bosio, focusing his artistic research on the theme of the modern ruin.

His work explores architectural forms through contemporary ruins, abandoned spaces and the layers of memory that accumulate within them. One of his works is currently exhibited at the Théâtre des Variétés until June 2026.

Maëva LU-CHI-VANG, also a scenographer and graduate of Pavillon Bosio (DNSEP, June 2025), currently collaborates with several emerging theatre companies in Paris.

Alongside her scenographic practice, she is also a performance artist. Her research explores themes such as order, free will, and the tension between the individual and the collective. Through performances where vocal polyphony, gesture and space interact, she creates immersive artistic experiences for both performers and audiences.