Curator: Zeev Gourarier
Exhibition layout: Zen+dCo – Zette Cazalas
In the heart of the fort’s chapel, the focus is on the linear course of celebrations that punctuate the stages of our lives, veritable rites of passage from one age to another, from one state to another: birth, puberty, marriage, professional milestones, funeral rites… All displayed in an immense showcase of 12 m in height. In the five loges of the upper officers’ gallery, the “cyclical” holidays that punctuate the annual calendar are evoked in five highlights: the representations of time, the winter solstice, the festival of the spring equinox, the summer solstice: the season of love, the autumnal equinox: the harvest time.
The Invention of Leisure
Invented in the courts of Europe in the 17th century, leisure activities were subsequently taken up and popularized by entrepreneurs for the general public. In the lower officers’ gallery, six scenes will retrace the exceptional history of the invention of leisure institutions such as restaurants, circuses, museums, amusement parks, and magic shows.
Popular Entertainment
Three aspects of popular entertainment will be developed in the buildings on the heights of Fort Saint-Jean:
- The Fair, under the decisive influence of Tivoli (the first amusement park in the world opened in Paris in 1798), gave birth to extraordinary machines. Rollercoasters, merry-go-rounds, swings, carousels, lotteries, gaming booths recreate the golden age of this marvellous universe.
- The Greatest Moments of the Circus, inspired in their mode of operation by the model of the “Universal Circus”, will be honoured… On this occasion, extraordinary objects, such as models of famous circus tents, portraits of clowns, costumes, accessories of famous performers and even the Gavioli organ, a national treasure, will be presented to the great enjoyment of visitors.
- Puppets, those which have told stories to generations and have embodied knights and classical and popular heroes: Guignols, rod and string puppets are also displayed in these areas.
To the presentations of objects in the interior spaces are added exterior installations, called “Follies”, which are in resonance with the themes outlined within.
An interpretation area in the guardroom welcomes visitors, presenting the history of the fort and the surrounding districts of Marseilles.
