Exhibition of paintings, sculptures and texts – Histoires d'eau

In La Ciotat, water is ever-present. It shapes the landscape, brings the harbour to life and fuels the inspiration of artists. It takes centre stage in the exhibition Histoires d’eau, on display at the Chapelle des Pénitents Bleus, an iconic site of local heritage whose forecourt opens out onto the bay. Painting, sculpture and writing come together here around this shared element, questioning our connection to water and inviting us to reconnect with the living world. At the heart of this project, Cléa Chantal Léandri, a painter and visual artist, is celebrating two decades of creative work. To mark this anniversary, she has teamed up with two artists: Vincent Marly, a wood sculptor and surfer from Biarritz, committed to preserving the waves, and Cathy Auboyneau, a poet dedicated to defending water in its original and essential form. Together, they weave an artistic dialogue in which materials, forms and words respond to and enrich one another. The works on display—paintings, sculptures and texts—encourage visitors to slow down and take a different perspective. The exhibition thus offers a sensitive approach to the preservation of this vital resource. Educational workshops, led by the artists and aimed at young audiences, will extend this experience by stimulating pupils’ imagination and creativity.