Julien de Casabianca: Bridging Museums and Streets with The Outings Project

outings project julien de casabianca

The Visionary Artist: Julien de Casabianca

Julien de Casabianca, a French visual artist and filmmaker, stands at the forefront of a transformative art movement known as The Outings Project. Born out of de Casabianca’s desire to liberate classical artworks from the confines of museum walls, this project redefines the relationship between classical and street art. Through paste-ups on city walls, de Casabianca brings these masterpieces to a new audience, blurring the lines between traditional and contemporary artistic spaces.

The Genesis of The Outings Project

The Outings Project had its genesis in 2014 when Julien de Casabianca visited the Louvre Museum and witnessed a painting by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres seemingly forgotten in a corner. Struck by the desire to liberate such artworks, he conceived the idea of taking these images to the streets. Since its inception, The Outings Project has evolved into a global phenomenon, with museums worldwide inviting de Casabianca to engage with their collections.

Bridging Artistic Realms: Classical to Street

The core concept of The Outings Project lies in transporting paintings from museum walls to the streets. Through meticulous photography of works in local museums and the creation of paste-ups on city walls, de Casabianca blurs the boundaries between classical and street art. This innovative approach bridges the gap, bringing well-known masterpieces to a new audience of city dwellers and passersby.

The Museums’ Invitation: A Global Engagement

Julien de Casabianca’s unique artistic approach has garnered invitations from numerous museums worldwide. These cultural institutions recognize the transformative power of The Outings Project in merging perceptions of classical and street art. Through these collaborations, de Casabianca continues to expand the reach of his vision.

The Medium and Genre: Paste-ups and Portraits

The medium of The Outings Project is primarily paper, manifested through intricate paste-ups on city walls. This ephemeral yet impactful form of art transforms urban landscapes into open-air galleries. The genre, often focused on portraiture, captures the essence of classical artworks in a way that resonates with the contemporary viewer.

Stavanger, Norway: A Canvas for Transformation

In September 2015, Julien de Casabianca brought The Outings Project to the streets of Stavanger, Norway, during the Nuart Festival. The chosen location, Dokkgata 20, became a canvas for transformation as classical portraits adorned the city walls, merging seamlessly with the urban environment.

Nuart Festival and Kalevkevad Collaboration

The Outings Project in Stavanger is intricately tied to collaborations with the Nuart Festival and Kalevkevad. These partnerships highlight the intersection of traditional art festivals and innovative street art initiatives, emphasizing the collective effort in reshaping urban aesthetics.

From Silos to Streets: Stavanger Harbour Silos

The chosen location for The Outings Project in Stavanger was the Stavanger Harbour Silos, a monumental setting that provided a unique backdrop for the fusion of classical and street art. This transformation serves as a testament to the adaptability and versatility of de Casabianca’s vision.

In summary, Julien de Casabianca’s The Outings Project is a testament to the transformative power of art in unexpected places. By liberating classical masterpieces from the confines of museums and bringing them to the streets, de Casabianca sparks a dialogue that transcends artistic boundaries, inviting a broader audience to engage with the rich tapestry of human creativity.

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