The Birth of the Waves at the Conciergerie: the Installation in Pictures

The Birth of Waves, an immersive installation by Émilie Faïf and Nicolas André, sets the Salle des Gens d'Armes at the Conciergerie in Paris rippling from November 4 to December 20, 2026. We got a first look, with photos and video.

We went to discover The Birth of the Waves, an immersive installation by Émilie Faïf and Nicolas André, presented at the Conciergerie. From November 4 to December 20, 2026, this mechanical swell fills the Salle des Gens d'Armes on the Île de la Cité, in Paris’s 1st arrondissement.

We take you beneath the vaulted ceilings in photos and video to see how the sea makes its way into one of the capital’s oldest palaces.

What you discover upon entering the Hall of the Men-at-Arms

The first thing that strikes you is the contrast. On one side, massive stone, rows of pillars and towering chimneys. On the other, a light surface that seems to hover above the ground and lift up in places.

You soon find yourself slowing down. Your gaze follows one ridge, then another, never quite finding the same shape twice. A little like on a beach, where you end up standing still, watching the water without really knowing how much time has passed.

The photos convey the scale of the installation and the geometry of its undulations. But it’s in video that the work really comes into its own: movement is the true subject, and it’s better told in moving images than in words.

How does this mechanical swell work?

No giant screens or video projections here. The work is based on deliberately simple mechanics, with a multitude of threads and pendulums animating a lightweight surface. The movement of the water becomes a constantly shifting geometric construction.

It calls to mind a nursery mobile that has grown to the scale of a landscape. As Unidivers points out, the installation does not seek to recreate the entire ocean: it isolates the rhythm, the movement, the play of troughs and peaks.

The installation covers nearly 140 sq. m, according to l'Agenda culturel. It is housed in a room measuring 64 meters long by 27.5 meters wide, according to the floor plan of the monument. It offers a new perspective on a place we often hurry through, our eyes fixed on the historical route. Deck chairs are arranged on either side of the installation, allowing visitors to be hypnotized by the rolling waves.

Who are Émilie Faïf and Nicolas André?

Émilie Faïf is a visual artist. Her work lies at the intersection of sculpture, installation and participatory projects, with regular forays into fashion and the performing arts. Her works have been exhibited at the Centre Pompidou, the Taipei Fine Arts Museum and the Setouchi Triennale in Japan.

Nicolas André is an architect and co-founder of the firm LANAA. He also teaches at the École nationale supérieure d'architecture de Paris-Belleville, where he co-directs a master's program devoted to architecture and scenography. His attention to materials and artisanal craftsmanship can be felt in the way the wave is built.

The work has already had a first life. It was presented at the MAIF Social Club on September 6 and 7, 2025, during the Traversées du Marais, in a 6-by-6-meter version. At the Conciergerie, it takes on a very different scale, entering into dialogue with the building’s architecture.

Why the Hall of the Men-at-Arms?

The choice of venue is no coincidence. The Salle des Gens d'Armes was built under Philip the Fair in the early 14th century and served as a dining hall for the staff of the king’s residence. Its four large fireplaces and forest of pillars tell the story of a Gothic royal palace, long before it became a prison during the Revolution.

The Conciergerie is often associated with Marie Antoinette and the dark days of the Reign of Terror. This installation instead invites visitors to look up at the vaults, while the nearby Seine seems to have passed through the walls to breathe beneath the pillars.

The Centre des monuments nationaux says the exhibition comes ahead of major renovation work in the medieval rooms, scheduled to begin in 2027. The detailed timetable has not yet been announced, but that is all the more reason not to wait too long to see the room in this new light.

Concert and Workshops: The Program Around the Installation

Several events extend the visit, with a musical touch and a creative version for families:

Waves of Sound: Baschet crystal concert by composer Marc Chouarain, Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at 7 p.m., in the Salle des Gens d’Armes (adults €13, free for those under 18 and EU residents aged 18–25).
A Breath on the Waves: family workshop for ages 6 and up to imagine your own wave, Saturday, November 14, at 2:15 p.m., Saturday, November 21, at 10:45 a.m., and Sunday, December 6, 2026, at 2:15 p.m. (adults €14, children €8).

The concert is well worth seeing. Marc Chouarain, who contributed to the soundtrack of Conclave, plays this rare instrument, whose tones are crystal clear. After watching the swell move, you can well imagine what the combination of sound and movement can do.

Who is this exhibition for?

This installation will appeal to contemporary art fans and curious visitors alike, especially those who enjoy seeing a familiar monument from a fresh perspective. Families will find plenty to enjoy too, particularly with the workshop designed for children.

At last, here’s a lovely quiet break for anyone seeking a moment of calm in the heart of Paris, just as the city begins to bustle ahead of the holidays. Plan to spend a little time in front of the wave: that’s when it reveals itself.

One thing to keep in mind: according to the ticketing information, admission includes access to the monument’s permanent tour, except during Tuesday evening openings. If you also want to see the dungeons and the Girondins’ chapel, it’s best to visit during the day.

The Birth of the Waves is on view at the Conciergerie, 2 boulevard du Palais, in the 1st arrondissement, from November 4 to December 20, 2026. The monument is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., with late openings every Tuesday until 8 p.m. (last admission at 7:30 p.m.). Adult admission costs €13, and entry is free for visitors under 18 and EU nationals aged 18 to 25. Booking through the official ticket office is recommended. For public transport, Cité metro station (line 4) is a few minutes’ walk away.

What to do around the Conciergerie?

Since you’re on the Île de la Cité, take the opportunity to visit the Sainte-Chapelle and its 1,113 stained-glass windows, just next door. After all those rows of thread, the colorful light filtering through the windows makes for a lovely continuation of the visit.

And if you enjoy installations that surround visitors, our selection of immersive exhibitions to see right now in Paris and Île-de-France is full of other ideas for outings.