CACTUS

Simple forms, fractal figures, muted, dull or vibrant colours, prickly, downy, bristly or waxy sheaths, fleshy, velvety organs, extravagant architectures – cacti and succulents have been a source of fascination for centuries. The Nouveau Musée National de Monaco, in collaboration with the Musée YVES SAINT LAURENT Marrakech, which initiated the project in 2024, is today dedicating an exhibition to them, seen from both a botanical and artistic perspective.

Native to the ‘torrid zone’ of our planet and indicators of an arid climate, cacti are ideal subjects through which to understand the gradual spread of tropical flora in the West, carried by expeditions, explorers, and the horticultural boom of the 19th century. With their outlandish forms, they challenge our conception of plant life, were quickly reproduced in a variety of botanical publications and entered the collections of prestigious gardens. Though deceptively easy to cultivate, these plants are regularly collected and have given rise to remarkable gardens across the planet, from California to the Canaries, via the Riviera. The exhibition pays particular attention to the Côte d’Azur, through historic and contemporary photographs, documents and drawings.

The unique aesthetic of cacti engaged the attention of many artists, particularly in the early 20th century, and especially during the interwar period. Their sometimes unusual originality made cacti and other succulents suggestive and inspiring motifs for architects, photographers, designers, artists, creators and filmmakers, who filled their visual worlds with their iconic forms. Few plant families have inspired so many artistic interpretations. This exhibition offers a broad overview, bringing together works as varied as an Eisenstein film, a Gufram coat stand, and a drawing created by David Hockney on an iPad!

Shifting seamlessly from scientific rigour to an artificial – sometimes even strange or unsettling – aesthetic, the exhibition escapes the confines of the museum’s interior, spilling out into the gardens of the Villa Sauber, transformed for the occasion into a spectacular cactus garden with the help of the Exotic Garden of Monaco.