Fragonard inaugurates a costume museum in the center of Arles

Arles (Bouches-du-Rhône). It was a gap in the plethora of Arles cultural offer: the Arles costume still had not a storefront. Mentioned in the course of the Museon Arlaten, this pillar of the local culture now has its dedicated museum, rue de la Calade, in the heart of the city center. Carried by the Webster sisters, leaders of the Perfumer Fragonard, this museum and heritage site will have experienced some deadlines before its delivery, at the beginning of the summer. Initially scheduled in 2021, the inauguration finally took place on July 6.

The rehabilitation of the Bouchaud hotel in Bussy – for 8 million euros – has largely benefited from these deadlines extended by the health crisis, offering a neat end result, even in the smallest finishes. The acquisition of this Arles monument by the Webster sisters in 2019 created the opportunity to bring together two collections: that of Magali Pascal, reference of the Arles costume, and Hélène Costa, mother of the three sisters who today direct Fragonard.

It was by “scrolling” his Instagram thread that Agnès Webster found the project management for this cultural project carried by the perfumer: the KO studio, known in particular for the creation of the Yves Saint Laurent Museum in Marrakech. Without being a specialist in heritage rehabilitation, the duo of architects delivers a particularly convincing result, restoring the old distributions of the mansion and promoting the original materials, such as Tavel stone. “” We didn’t want to do false XVIIe century, but rely on historical methods, such as lime plaster »specifies Karl Fournier, the K of the KO studio.

Seconded by Nathalie d’Artigues for this heritage part, the studio was more radical in the design of the exhibition route, upstairs, which contrasts with the image that could be made of a costume museum. Dark atmosphere, geometric windows, the small exhibition space turns out to be neutral and modern, inspired in particular by Andrée Putman’s exhibition scenographies. “” There is the idea that the public loses the notion of time and space in this gallery »explains Clément Trouche, director of the museum.

The latter took on the role of guardian of the memory of the Arles costume after the death of Magali Pascal, which he has long rubbed shoulders with and whose collection he knows on his fingertips. Far from a “popular traditions” approach, he wishes to wear a more modern, historical and social vision of the costume, in an aesthetic scenography. The first route thus presents carefully composed silhouettes, making it possible to detect the evolutions of this moving “Arlesian”, whose image is often too frozen.

“We keep real neutrality in the presentation, and we want to present snacks of society”explains Clément Trouche. This will is embodied by scientific work carried out on each costume, all the elements of which are precisely contemporary. There are still a few elements of mediation in this very sober course to enhance the virtuous historical approach started by the museum. A case to follow, since the route will be renewed every year.