Free exhibition by Christian Lapie at the Domaine de Saint Cloud

Un temps infini, Christian Lapie's free exhibition at the Domaine National de Saint-Cloud in Hauts-de-Seine, France, unveils fifteen monumental sculptures on a 460-hectare site. This contemporary art trail runs from September 12, 2025 to September 30, 2026.

This is a first in the history of the Domaine National de Saint-Cloud. For the first time, the Hauts-de-Seine region is hosting a majorcontemporary art exhibition featuring monumental sculptures by Christian Lapie, an internationally acclaimed 70-year-old artist from Reims. The exhibition, entitled "Un temps infini", transforms the 460-hectare historic park into an open-air gallery, offering a free artistic experience accessible to all.

The works are scattered throughout the different areas of the estate, creating a special dynamic and providing an open-air artistic experience. These fifteen spectral figures in rough, charred oak fit perfectly into the perspectives designed by Le Nôtre in the 17th century. This approach is in keeping with the trend towards open-air exhibitions, which are proliferating in the Paris region. The artist has designed these sculptures to fit into the great perspectives of the landscape, extending the lines of the park while reinterpreting them, bringing a contemporary resonance to this historic legacy.

The tour unfolds in two stages. The first follows the central axis, from the Grande Gerbe to the Orangers. Five isolated figures punctuate this crossing, like immobile lookouts. Erected in space, they create a sense of suspended time, a slow, almost sacred march. These armless, faceless sculptures recall the world of Alberto Giacometti, while questioning our collective memory and our relationship with history.

Christian Lapie 's work is rooted in the tragic history of the 20th century. His installations of spectral figures emerge from chosen sites steeped in history, on every continent. These armless, faceless figures, monumental and powerful, question and destabilize. Born in 1955 in Reims, France, the artist has developed his plastic language from raw materials: charred wood, broken glass, cement and inscriptions on sheet metal, creating works that resonate with places of memory. His sculptures have been exhibited both temporarily and permanently in France, including at the Chemin des Dames (Aisne), the Parc Départemental de Sceaux in 2015, and more recently at Hangar Y in Meudon. Or internationally, in India in particular.

Why does this exhibition mark a turning point for the Saint-Cloud estate?

This first exhibition of contemporary art is part of a diversification strategy led by Brice Mathieu, the estate's administrator. The aim is to show that the park is not just "an area for cars to cross and dogs to walk, but also a place for contemplation, learning, rest and wonder". This initiative is inspired by the success of the Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire, a benchmark for combining historical heritage and contemporary creation.

How to discover Christian Lapie's sculptures?

The exhibition is entirely free of charge and accessible during the opening hours of the Domaine National de Saint-Cloud. We can follow a free trail through the two main axes of the park, discovering the sculptures as we go. This exhibition is organized in partnership with the RX&SLAG gallery, Paris - New York, and fits in perfectly with the range of exhibitions on offer in the Hauts-de-Seine region.

What are the estate's next artistic ambitions?

Other artistic projects are already under discussion. The Centre des Monuments Nationaux plans to pursue this policy of welcoming contemporary art, in particular with artists specializing in land art, which lends itself particularly well to the scale of the estate. However, these future projects will need to find financial partners and patrons to ensure the sustainability of this new cultural direction.

The domaine national de Saint-Cloud thus confirms its vocation as a living place where history meets contemporary creation. This free exhibition by Christian Lapie represents a wonderful opportunity to discover a major artist in an exceptional setting, just a few minutes from Paris. An accessible artistic experience that enriches our view of this historic heritage of the Hauts-de-Seine region.

To remember: Domaine national de Saint-Cloud, Saint-Cloud (92). Access by metro line 10 to Boulogne-Pont de Saint-Cloud or by tramway T2 to Parc de Saint-Cloud. Free exhibition from September 12, 2025 to September 30, 2026, during Domaine opening hours.