This Ukrainian exhibition is now open for viewing at the “Princesse de KIEV” gallery – 12, Rue Valperga in Nice (behind Nice Etoile).
Nice-première: What does contemporary art evoke for you?
Dominique ESTROSI: I have always been drawn to Naïve Art. In Nice, we are fortunate to have the International Museum of Naïve Art Anatole Jakovsky. All this emotion… I also think of Cézanne and especially Matisse for the exceptional places he has bequeathed to our cultural heritage… And then there’s the School of Nice, Klein, Nikki De Saint Phalle… The MAMAC which offers all these high-quality international exhibitions for the people of Nice. Lastly, Nice will continue in contemporary creation through a new generation of talented artists whom I regularly support.
NP: What are your thoughts on the Euro-Mediterranean cultural exchange projects which are a priority for the Ambre International association?
DE: We need to open up to our neighbors who are just waiting for this. The strategic positioning of the Alpes-Maritimes department on the Mediterranean arc can only promote economic, social, and cultural development between Mediterranean countries. We must position ourselves in relation to Marseille because this cultural crossroads represented by the city of Nice is a real opportunity.
NP: Your viewpoint on culture at the departmental level?
DE: Since Christian ESTROSI took over the department, a new generation has stepped in to inject a fresh cultural dynamic in the fields of new technologies, art, dance, and theatre, etc. Today, international cultural events are directly presented in Nice, like for example the cultural event “Tents of Peace” by Clara Halter, which was recently inaugurated in Jerusalem. There was a real need to open up to these new forms of art and besides, to make these different cultures accessible to the greatest number.
NP: Do you think art is a good factor for social integration?
DE: I work a lot for the “city policy” and contribute to developing acts of citizenship in sensitive neighborhoods thanks to the active support of associations. Art is this vector of integration that allows working with the national education system and setting up visits to the Nice Theater, art exhibitions, learning about the city’s heritage, learning languages, discovering culinary art, etc. The children of these different communities thus find references through art allowing them to more easily protect themselves from urban violence and enabling better integration. I particularly think of the actions of the Mosaïcité association that is creating a giant mosaic mural on the wall of the middle school in L’Ariane on the theme of sports. I am thinking of the event I am attending this evening “The School at the Theater Festival” at the Lino VENTURA theater where families from different cultures come together to watch this show performed by children in partnership with the national education.
NP.: Does the Nice Sophia Antipolis metropolis ring a bell?
DE: The need to bring Nice closer to Sophia is urgent… We have seen aging at Sophia Antipolis and a delay in implementing transport… That’s why the creation of a NICE SOPHIA ANTIPOLIS metropolis is starting to take shape in connection with the Nice Méridia project… The goal over time will be to align Nice, community agglomerations, Cannes, Sophia Antipolis, the CCI, etc… for the economic and cultural development of all…: this is what is being pursued through the Métropole Côte d’Azur project.
