MUCEM : Cocktail event around the Bonnes Mères exhibition

📍 Saint-Jean Fortress, Mucem, Marseille

▪️ iDzia installation: the light, the video

Marseille pays tribute to the "Bonnes Mères"

On the occasion of the opening of the Bonnes Mères exhibition at the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations, Marseille is illuminated around a symbol deeply rooted in its identity: the "Bonne Mère", or the "Holy Mothers". The exhibition highlights the many representations of this protective figure, between religious heritage, artistic creation and contemporary interpretation, offering a renewed perspective on an iconic emblem of the city.

The project extends beyond the museum walls with the installation of a second Bonne Mère at Saint-Jean Fortress, created by the silversmith house Christofle, which was already behind the original creation. This monumental work acts as an extension of the exhibition, visible from various points across the city.

The Mucem: a museum between land and sea

Located at the entrance of the Old Port, the Mucem has become a key cultural landmark in Europe, with which we are always honoured to collaborate. Dedicated to the civilisations of Europe and the Mediterranean, it offers a rich and multidisciplinary cultural programme combining exhibitions, collections, talks, performances and artistic projects, at the crossroads of perspectives and imaginaries.

With its iconic contemporary architecture and its walkways opening onto the sea, the Mucem embodies a continuous dialogue between history and modernity. The Bonnes Mères exhibition fits perfectly into this dynamic by revisiting a deeply local symbol through a plural artistic reading.

Christofle and the art of enhancing heritage

As a partner in this artistic installation, Christofle showcases its exceptional silversmith craftsmanship. The French house transforms metal into a living material, playing with reflections, light and textures to create works of remarkable precision.

At the Saint-Jean Fortress, the Bonne Mère signed by Christofle stands as a luminous sculpture, created using the galvanoplasty technique, which consists of using an electric current to deposit metal ions onto the surface of an object. In dialogue with the site’s fortified architecture, it becomes a powerful visual landmark within the Mediterranean landscape. The head of the silversmith workshop notes:

“For anyone who knows Marseille, the Bonne Mère is an iconic symbol. It was only natural for us, 150 years later, to take part in its reproduction.”

An elevated evening by iDzia

On the evening of April 28, to celebrate the opening of the exhibition, iDzia had the pleasure of taking part in the creation of a cocktail reception on the terrace of the Upper Officers’ Gallery at the Saint-Jean Fortress.

In this unique setting, between stone, sea and horizon, guests were welcomed into an elegant atmosphere. iDzia deployed its expertise in lighting and video design, with a scenography tailored to the site. Video projections and warm lighting atmospheres extended the universe of the exhibition into the event space, creating a seamless continuity between art, architecture and sensory experience.

This reception dedicated to the Bonnes Mères exhibition illustrates the encounter between art, heritage and technical excellence. Our collaboration with the Mucem and Christofle also reflects the richness of cultural partnerships and our ambition to create spaces and moments designed for all types of events.

We extend our thanks to the Mucem teams for their welcome, to Christofle for its craftsmanship, and to all the technicians involved.