French town holds street exhibition as galleries are closed

The town of Collioure in Occitanie has transformed into a giant outdoors art gallery, while more traditional galleries are closed due to the Covid-19 health pandemic.

Visitors to the current exhibition, called Art à ciel ouvert (“art under open sky"), can see 32 different contemporary art works displayed in the town’s medieval streets until January 6.

The paintings, based on the theme of the circus, have been printed on triangular banners around two meters in size, and are for sale.

Event welcomed by locals and artists 

The event, which was organised by the association of artists in Collioure, has been welcomed by locals. One passerby told news source FranceInfo: “I find that it brightens up the town. It’s a change from normal, and it’s prettier.”

Another added: “It’s varied, colourful, well-coordinated and Collioure is the city of painters so it makes sense.”

One of the participating artists, Vincent Pulpito, told FranceInfo that his artwork depicting a clown was “a little nod to a magic circus. Come to Collioure to see our little hearts [the artworks]. 

“This clown loves to see happiness, and that is here. It’s very simple.”