Permanent exhibition
The permanent exhibition hall of the Musée de l'Image is based on an original concept: contrasting yesterday’s images with those of today. It looks at popular images and juxtaposes them with other forms of art. In fact, image production has always involved constant dialogue, an interchange of references, which either faithfully reflect the model or sit in opposition. Contemporary artists, including painters, engravers, illustrators, photographers, writers or stage directors, perpetuate this relationship.
Against an illustrated and colourful backdrop, popular images sit alongside other representations from paintings, photography, sculpture, advertising, caricature or cartoons. Mediation tools, interactive terminals, video montages, audio guides and collection viewing areas allow the public to immerse themselves in a cheerful and stimulating environment that combines nostalgia with discovery, but above all gives them a better understanding of the images.
A photography display by Karen Knorr serves as an introduction to the hall and makes us question why we should put works of art in Museums, the meaning of images and the stories they represent. This exhibition is in itself an open book which, we hope, will make the public want to read the images.
For preservation purposes, the images in the permanent exhibition hall are replaced every six months in order to avoid prolonged exposure to light. So you can come back again and again and find a Museum that's different every time!
