The transfer corridor between Auber and Opéra stations has become a prominent venue for urban art exhibitions by RATP, in partnership with the association known as M.U.R. (an acronym for Modulable, Urbain, Réactif), which invites urban artists to occupy temporary exhibition spaces. Eight large-scale artworks adorn this ever-changing gallery: every 3 months, one of them is replaced.
Each artist has been able to freely translate their feelings about this space, frequented by thousands of commuters daily:
Rouge Hartley
« An artist with a strong academic background, Rouge uses his painting to convey societal and poetic messages. Here, the human figure is confronted with the landscape in a metaphorical representation of their relationship with the world of work. This worker, standing with their feet in the water, deviates from their daily path for a moment of contemplation of the surrounding nature. Contrary to the flow, they invite the stream of commuters rushing to work into a poetic and melancholic escape. »
Lady M
« Raised in a family of musicians, Lady M has crafted a melodious body of work directly inspired by music. Through the interplay of colors and the rhythm of forms, she orchestrates a mural that feels 'musical and dance-like' through her gestures. Naturally joyful, Lady M needs cheerfulness and music to create. This wall becomes a spiritual journey at the border of the real and the unreal, centered around color, composition, and vibration, where everyone is free to narrate their own story. »
Abys
« Influenced by the pop culture of cartoons and comics, Abys has been drawing since childhood and began graffiti as a teenager with the collectives Osmoz-Colors and Nid d'Guêpes Posse. With a perfect mastery of spray technique and a keen sense of perspective, he recreates his own universe by crafting fairy-tale and whimsical characters, like this duo of a fox and a rabbit transformed into graffiti artists. His mural invites viewers on a journey to a wonderful world and a return to the innocence of childhood. »
Logan Hicks
« A great admirer of impressionist painting, Logan Hicks employs a similar artistic approach based on photography and the manipulation of light. Using his own prints as references to create paintings, he recreates through stencils and spray techniques this 'optical blend,' allowing him to achieve urban landscapes sprayed with nuances and delicacy. With this vegetal mural, he aims to introduce nature within the concrete. »
Swed
« This encounter shapes the subject of my painting. Like the infinite nature of its network, the creative possibilities are manifold within the metro corridors. Thus, I anchor the real within reality, as a witness to a moment, an era, a way of life. »
Seth
« In this corridor exposed to drafts, where our pace is hastened by a moving walkway, I aimed to offer the traveler, for a fleeting moment, an evocation of freedom, akin to an emergency exit from the alienation of everyday life. The lightness of this girl contrasts with the oppressive environment of underground corridors. During this tedious journey through the heart of the matrix, she invites us to appreciate the present moment. »
Nesta
« Through Vegetalism, I paint the passage of time, my representation of memory. I sketch the microcosm of my wastelands—those that fade, transform, and transcend, dissipating into oblivion. With this evocation of vegetation reclaiming its space within the crevices of our cities, I invite passersby to marvel at this indomitable energy that surrounds us. »
Andrea Ravo Mattoni
« Derived from the famous painting 'In a Roman Osteria' by the Danish painter Carl Bloch, this character embodies the romanticized 'Italianness' of the 19th century. This handsome, dark-haired man, proud and protective, virile and seductive, epitomizes the stereotype of the jealous and hot-blooded hero often found in the greatest tenor roles. His dark and suspicious gaze encapsulates all the pride of Italy! »
Culture and RATP, a commitment that goes beyond public transport
Since its creation, RATP has given pride of place to art in its stations. Combining transport and culture has always been essential for RATP. This objective continues to this day, with the company’s strong desire to make art and culture accessible to all, and to ensure that its customers’ daily journeys are more pleasant and enjoyable.
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