Titled The Voices of Rivers, Crossing the Water, the 17th edition of the Lyon Biennale of Contemporary Art, curated by Alexia Fabre and directed by Isabelle Bertolotti, brings together 78 artists from the national and international contemporary art scene. Nearly 70 new creations are on display, including several collaborative works involving local residents. The event spans multiple venues, including the familiar MAC Lyon and IAC Villeurbanne, as well as two new, unprecedented exhibition spaces: Les Grandes Locos and la Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie de Lyon.

Les Grandes Locos, a former SNCF technical center, is the most spectacular. Its vast space, with blue and yellow floors beneath a glass roof, allows for free movement among the many artist installations. These have been arranged as large islands that, together, form a beautiful archipelago, harmonizing with one another. This cohesion reflects the curator’s intent to inject new energy into the Biennale by featuring many artists from the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris—many under 30—and giving them a central role in the exhibition. This dialogue between experienced artists, such as Hélène Delprat, Pilar Albarracín, Myriam Mihindou, Hans Schabus, and Oliver Beer, and emerging talents underscores the Biennale’s role in showcasing new voices. Sofia Salazar Rosales stands out with her works at the intersection of craftsmanship and industry, where metal takes on the form of sugar, a delicate metaphor for identity. Victoire Inchaupsé creates an immersive shelter inspired by an Egyptian solar boat, evoking memory and the passage of time. Jérémie Danon and Kiddy Smile explore the representation of Black bodies in French cultural landscapes through a video installation.

At MAC Lyon, diversity continues: the sharp mobiles of Liz Parayzo, the shattered glass ceiling of Stéphane Thidet, and the bold paintings of Ludivine Gonthier coexist, illustrating a vibrant dialogue between styles, media, and generations. An entire room is devoted to the mischievous work of the late Sylvie Fanchon, where her paintings engage abstraction and figuration in playful conversation. The IAC Villeurbanne, faithful to its mission of promoting young creators, presents standout works, including Meri Karapetyan’s monumental installation, which questions notions of borders through a woven metal sculpture.

La Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie, though less cohesive in its management, offers highlights, such as three magnificent monochrome sculptures by Iranian artist Hajar Satari, which explore the influence of opium on her perception of the world.

Ultimately, The Voices of Rivers, Crossing the Water is a rich and vibrant event, underscoring the importance of a dynamic artistic scene and offering a promising glimpse of the future of art.

Exhibition dates: September 21, 2024, to January 5, 2025.

 

 

17e Biennale d’ art contemporain de Lyon, Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie. Alix Boillot, Lacrymatoires, 2023 Sel gemme. Courtesy de l’artiste © ADAGP, Paris, 2024 Photo Jair Lanes.

17e Biennale d’ art contemporain de Lyon, Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie. Alix Boillot, L’Éternité (2), 2024 Sel. Courtesy de l’artiste © Adagp, Paris, 2024. Photo Jair Lanes. 

17e Biennale d’ art contemporain de Lyon. Anastasia Sosunova, Gossip Workshop, 2024. Courtesy de l’artiste et eastcontemporary, Milan. Co-production Kaunas Biennial et Jeune création internationale. Photo Jair Lanes

17e Biennale d’ art contemporain de Lyon, Les Grande Locos. Deimantas Narkevičius, Stains and Scratches, 2017. Film vidéo 3D, HD à canal unique, 8’. Courtesy de l’artiste et Maureen Paley (Londres) © ADAGP, Paris, 2024 Photo Jair Lanes

17e Biennale d’ art contemporain de Lyon, Les Grande Locos. Edi Dubien, Cailloux, 2024 Acrylique et encre sur toile. Courtesy de l’artiste et Galerie Alain Gutharc © ADAGP, Paris, 2024. Photo Jair Lanes

17e Biennale d’ art contemporain de Lyon, Violette Cristal, 2024 Cire, améthyste, œil de tigre, violette cristallisée. Courtesy de l’artiste © Adagp, Paris, 2024. Photo Jair Lane17e Biennale d’ art contemporain de Lyon, Hajar Satari, L’Oreiller, 2023. Polystyrène, résine acrylique. Courtesy de l’artiste Photo : Jair Lanes