As part of the 800th-anniversary celebrations, a photography exhibition will take place from July 10 to October 10. Curated by renowned photographer CédricMATET, it will be held at the Jardin des Plantes. In 2020, this photographer also curated the exhibition “Behind the Masks,” whichfeatures200 portraits of medical personnel.
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"People in Their Gardens"
The title of the exhibition is fundamentally linked to itscontent. In fact, for this exhibition, the artist chose to work with anatomical specimens from the Faculty’s anatomy collection. To better understand his project, we interviewed the photographer.
What is your background?
I’m originally fromSète. I attended a design school in Montpellier that is now called ESMA. After that, I enrolled at the Gobelins School of Visual Arts in Paris. Later, I went back to school to earn a master’s degree in Urban Planning and Sustainable Development because I’m interested in cities. In the meantime, I’ve been working in art direction and design at various communications agencies.
What interests me is connecting art to the city, to maps, to cartography, and to people. In my view, an artist must be rooted in their context: urban, political, and human.
Can you tell us about the “Behind the Masks” project?
It was GéraldCHANQUES, a professor at the faculty and a doctor atSaint EloiHospital, who contacted me and proposed this project. I wanted to convey a vision ofwhat healthcare providers can be and the commitments they make.
How would you describe yourself?
If I had to define myself and my work, I would talk abouttransdisciplinarity. I am a photographer, but I’m also a visual artist; I enjoy working with various materials and collaborating with people from different fields.
Can you tell us about your new exhibition, “Man in His Garden”?
It’s been a while since I first thought of writing about the Jardin des Plantes, but I’ve always had a real passion for the anatomy museum I visited when I was a student. Being able to explore botany through the garden, but also to explore humanity and research on the human body—I think that’s fabulous. The project was a collaboration between the two of us, once again with ProfessorCHANQUES.
This project is interesting becauseit takes me out of my comfort zone;I usuallytake portraits, but that’s not the case here.
Furthermore, since all the rooms are designated as heritage sites, I have a special relationship with the curator. She’s the third subject of this project—I can’t work without her. Usually, I direct my model,but here I can’t because of the piece’s fragility—every movement must be carried out by the curator.
It’sinteresting becausethe artwork and the garden exist independently of me.
There are three of us working on this project: Jane, who creates digital art and is a videographer; Luc, who does motion design, among other things; and me, who works with visuals and handles the art direction for the whole project. None of us knows what the final result will be.
How did you choose the anatomical structures?
I first sought advice from ProfessorCHANQUES and the curators to find out which pieces are emblematic of the conservatory. I didn’t choose the pieces based on their aesthetic appeal, since the goal of this exhibition is to tell a story and convey meaning.
The only exception to this is a bust we found—no one knows the identity of the person depicted, its history, or the era it comes from. I found it fragile and touching, so I decided to include it. It’s the only piece I selected based on a gut feeling.
There are some pieces that,unfortunately, we were unable to include because of their fragility. I was also drawn to other pieces, but they didn’t depict the human body and therefore strayed from the subject. I’ll explore those later for another, more personal project.
Some pieces are also too heavy to move. However, that’s part of the exhibition’s story.
For some pieces that we couldn’t bring out to the Jardin des Plantes, we brought the Jardin to them by using branches and foliage.
For the past 10 years, the Jardin des Plantes has been organizing summer tours to help the general public learn more about our botanical garden. Check out the summer 2021 program.
Tours for all ages
Open to everyone, the Jardin des Plantes’ summer tours cover a variety of themes:
- The medicinal plant collections at the Jardin des Plantes
- Richer Mountain: Where History and Ecology Meet
- The Martins Greenhouse and Its Collection of Succulents
- Tours of the Permaculture Edible Garden
- Herbs and the Senses
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ADDRESS
Henri IV Boulevard,
34000 Montpellier
One hundred years ago, students from the Montpellier Faculty of Medicine unveiled works of art in the Jardin des Plantes and its historic building to celebrate the 7th centennial. To recreate this symbolic gesture on the occasion of the 800th anniversary, an association was founded by current students in 2019.
The Birth of an Association
To carry out this project,the Association Carabine Montpelliéraine (ACM) and the Syndicat des Internes du Languedoc-Roussillon (SIRL) have joined forces to createthe Association for a Historic Ceremony of Montpellier Medical Students (ACHEMM). The association consists of 19 members and is chaired by Allan Guilliey, a fourth-year medical student. The association’s goal is to bring the project to fruition, from concept to completion, including the search for artists who will exhibit their works at the new Arnaud de Villeneuve Campus.
An event redesigned in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
Originally, this exhibition was to be launched with a gala organized by ACHEMM students. Numerous European institutions were to be invited to the event in late 2020, and the association had the opportunity to speak at the COIMBRA Group conference, initially scheduled for June 2020. Founded in 1985, this group aims to bring together and promote excellence among European universities, with the goal of sustaining high standards of education, research, and academic mobility on an international level, while fostering unique cultural ties.
Unfortunately, due to health restrictions that have forced a rethinking of the event, an opening reception for the exhibition will now take place in July 2021 to showcase the students’ work.
A colossal undertaking
To carry out this project, the students in the association had to invest a great deal of their time and energy. To showcase meaningful works, the students issued a call for submissions to local artists. About twenty artists submitted their work; the students then selected thirteen of them based on which pieces seemed artistically most suited to the project.
Next, the association’s members had to approach local governments to secure funding to pay the artists. These institutions were invaluable in helping to bring this project to fruition.
Ultimately, a tremendous amount of organizational work was carried out over the course of these two years to showcase this exhibition and, through it, the history of the Faculty.
Transmission as a common thread
The theme of this exhibition is transmission. Indeed, in 2017, the 800-year-old Faculty was enriched by a new, state-of-the-art campus: the Arnaud de Villeneuve Campus. The works in this exhibition bridge the gap between these two sites, combining the classical and the modern, realism and abstraction, to represent both locations and, through them, both eras.
The centerpiece of this exhibition, created by Nicolas Daubanes, is a DNA molecule—a reminder that, although the Faculty is spread across different sites, all of these campuses share the same DNA and are part of its history.
Artists and Their Works
Visit the exhibition
Guided tours will be offered on Saturday, July 10, and Sunday, July 11, starting at 2:00 p.m. They will be conducted in accordance with public health guidelines. Registration is required:
The association would like to thank all of its partners (the DRAC, the FRAC, the Hérault Department, the Occitanie Region, Pumkin, the CROUS, the University of Montpellier, the Montpellier Metropolitan Area, and the City of Montpellier) for their support, as well as Professor Gérald CHANQUES and the faculty staff who worked to ensure the smooth running of this project.
In 2016 and 2018, Ms. Barjon and Ms. Blanc, daughters of former Dean Gaston Giraud, bequeathed their father’s archives to the University of Montpellier. Thanks to these archives, we are now able to present an exhibition on the evolution of the Faculty’s various buildings and sites since its 700th anniversary, commemorated in 1921.
An exhibition divided into several sections
This exhibition, organized by the University of Montpellier’s Archives Department (Sophie Dikoff, Antoine Redouly, and Gwendoline Perrault) in collaboration with Ms. Barjon and Professor Dedet—and with the special participation of Dean Jacques Bringer, Professor Daniel Jarry, and Mr. Serge Caminade—will focus on the evolution of the various buildings and sites that make up the Faculty: the Historic Building, the Institute of Biology, the extensions in Nîmes and on the northern site of Montpellier (the UPM and the Arnaud de Villeneuve campus building), and finally the Jardin des Plantes.
Dive into the heart of the archives
Thanks to donations from the family of former Dean Giraud, this exhibition features a wealth of photographs. You can admire photos of the old buildings and gain an appreciation of how their architecture has evolved over time. The exhibition also showcases other documents that shed light on the buildings’ development, such as architectural plans, handwritten letters, and postcards…
A large-scale project
To mark the occasion, we spoke with Sophie Dikoff, the archivist in charge of this exhibition, to learn how it was put together.
Could you tell us about your job?
My role as an archivist at the University of Montpellier is to assist all departments in managing their archives in accordance with current legislation governing public archives. I carry out this mission in collaboration with the Hérault Departmental Archives, which provides scientific and technical oversight. Archives serve to document changes—whether architectural, societal, or otherwise…
Where do the archival materials in this exhibition come from?
Most of these items come from donations by Dean Giraud’s family. Indeed, the dean kept many documents related to his various projects, both in his capacity as dean of the Montpellier Faculty of Medicine and in his personal capacity, as he was passionate about the history of medicine and the Montpellier Faculty of Medicine. The remaining archival materials come from the University’s image collection, the University’s photo library, and that of the Conference of University Presidents, which have been supplemented by photographs taken for the exhibition.
How long did it take you to prepare this exhibition?
The exhibition was originally scheduled to take place in October 2020, but due to health restrictions, we had to postpone it. So I’ve been working on this project since around the beginning of 2020. The process is very time-consuming, as it first requires conducting research to understand the various aspects of the subject (searching archives, reading, meeting with experts), selecting the most interesting documents, obtaining permission to use photos in accordance with copyright laws, writing texts, and determining a visitor route. For the exhibition design, we enlisted the help of a professional exhibition designer, André Dumonnet. For this exhibition, the approach was to organize the presentation by building and then in chronological order. One panel presents a timeline covering all buildings and sites.
An exhibition open to everyone
The exhibition, which will run from June 18, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. to July 21, 2021, at 6:00 p.m., is free of charge. Self-guided tours will be available Wednesday through Friday from 1:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with guided tours available on Saturdays from 1:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The University of Medicine of Montpellier is the oldest university medical school in the world. It celebrated its 800th anniversary on August 17, 2020. To mark the occasion, a series of events was scheduled to take place throughout 2020. Due to the current health situation, these events had to be postponed to 2021. The 800th anniversary is being marked by numerous events that will take place through the end of the year. Among them are five scientific or academic conferences, which will be held either remotely or in person on the university campus.
Learn more about them below:
Check out the program for each event and registration details on the 800th Anniversary website.
After celebrating our anniversary on August 17, come see the anatomy exhibition “Corps à Coeur,” which is free and open to the public, at the Historic Building from September 2 through October 31, 2020.
SEPTEMBER 2021 - RE-RUN OF THE "CORPS A COEUR" EXHIBITION
From September 22, 2021, through October 30, 2021, the “Corps à Cœur” exhibition reopens in the Tekné Makré galleries of the Historic Building!
You can find her Wednesday through Friday from 1:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Starting November 2, the exhibition will be open to the public by reservation through the Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole Tourist Office: 04 67 60 60 60
An exhibition on the anatomical sciences
Through this exhibition, the Faculty and the University are showcasing the Faculty of Medicine’s anatomical collections. These collections illustrate the methods used to teach anatomy from the late mid-18th century to the mid-20th century, before the advent of “anatomy of the living” and modern techniques for studying the human body.
By selecting unique pieces from these collections, the exhibition allows visitors to compare these objects—which bear witness to historical methods of studying anatomy—with today’s medical imaging technologies.
The book covers three main topics: the diversity of educational materials, the anatomy of the human body, and, finally, diseases and treatments.
An exhibition not to be missed for anyone interested in anatomy, history, or cultural heritage!
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General Curators: Caroline Ducourau, Marie-Angeline Pinail
Scientific Curators: Prof. François Bonnel, Dr. Christophe Bonnel
The exhibition will be held in the Tekné Makré galleries , on the garden level of the Historic Building, from September 1 to October 17, 2020.
Admission is free starting September 2, Wednesday through Friday from 1:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Masks are required.
Following a decision by the Prefect of Hérault, Heritage Days will not take place in public buildings. The Faculty and the Jardin des Plantes are affected by this cancellation. More information in this article.
Cancellation of the European Heritage Days at the Faculty of Medicine and its Botanical Garden
Prefectural Order No. 2020.01.1066 prohibits state-run institutions from welcoming the public during the 2020 European Heritage Days due to the current public health situation.
We therefore regret to announce the cancellation of the guided tours scheduled for Saturday, September 19, and Sunday, September 20.
This cancellation applies to events scheduled to take place in the Faculty of Medicine’s Historic Building as well as at the Jardin des Plantes.
The temporary exhibitions “Art and Anatomy” and “Body to Heart” will be suspended on September 19
In consultation with the University’s administration, the Faculty’s leadership has decided to suspend the temporary exhibitions currently on display in the Historic Building this weekend as well: “Art and Anatomy” at the Atger Museum and the “Corps à Coeur” exhibition in the Tekné Makré galleries.
These exhibitions will resume their regular hours starting Monday, September 21.
On Monday, August 17, 2020, the Faculty officially celebrated its 800th anniversary! Here’s a look back at an event marked by sharing and camaraderie.
800 Years of History, Tradition, and Excellence
The ceremony begins at the top of the steps of the Cour d’Honneur. Teachers and students, dressed in their finest ceremonial attire, make their entrance into this historic venue alongside:
- from Philippe Augé, President of the University of Montpellier;
- from the Dean of the Faculty, Michel Mondain;
- from the Chair of the Steering Committee, Thierry Lavabre-Bertrand.
We were, of course, able to count on the presence and participation of representatives from local and regional governments:
- Mr. Christian Assaf for the Occitanie Region,
- Mr. Renaud Calvat for the Hérault Department,
- Mr. Michaël Delafosse, representing the Montpellier Metropolitan Area and the City of Montpellier
- and finally, Ms. Sophie Béjean, Superintendent of the Montpellier School District and the Occitanie Region.
To ensure the ceremony began on the right foot, Professor Chanques and Usher Eddy Lamou presented our ceremonial mace—a symbolic object of the Faculty—to the audience. Resembling the rod of Asclepius, this mace symbolizes the punishment that awaits physicians who fail to honor the Hippocratic Oath.
The Dean's Usher, E. Lamou, and Prof. G. Chanques present the Faculty's ceremonial chasuble, a historic symbol. pic.twitter.com/y9YyCA8g2H
— Montpellier-Nîmes School of Medicine (@FacultemedMPL) August 17, 2020
Next, it was the turn of Professor Valérie Rigau—the youngest member elected to the governing board—and Allan Guilley, a medical student and president of ACHEMM (the student association dedicated to the Faculty’s 800th anniversary), to read a translation of the Faculty’s original bylaws, thereby highlighting their historical and symbolic significance.
These statutes were promulgated on August 12, 1220, by the legate of Pope Honorius III, Cardinal Conrad of Urach. Since then, the teaching of medicine has continued uninterrupted in Montpellier, forging strong ties with the city, as both President Augé and Dean Mondain noted in their speeches.
#Doyen Mondain highlights the diversity of medical expertise from Arab, Jewish, and Christian communities that contributed to the emergence of medical education in @montpellier_ #800ansMontpellierMedecine pic.twitter.com/OJz1ob9Fii
— Montpellier-Nîmes School of Medicine (@FacultemedMPL) August 17, 2020
A college proud of its past and looking toward the future
800 years later, the Faculty and its community are proud to celebrate this milestone. To mark the occasion, a commemorative plaque was unveiled—a way to honor the distinguished figures who have shaped our faculty, while continuing to write our history.
As current events show us, this journey will undoubtedly be full of challenges to overcome! These challenges will in no way alter the Faculty’s mission: we will be there to support and train the future healthcare professionals of tomorrow.
Relive the ceremony
Below are photos of the ceremony taken by E. Perra. You can also watch the entire ceremony again by clicking the link below.
And to learn more about the events planned for the coming months to celebrate this anniversary in style, visit the official website at 800ans.fr!
In light of the evolving health crisis and coronavirus-related restrictions, the President of the University of Montpellier has decided to cancel the 17th edition of Primavera, which was scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 22, 2020, at the Jardin des Plantes in Montpellier.
As in previous years, Primavera 2020 was expected to welcome between 6,000 and 8,000 visitors throughout the day to take part in this celebration of plants and spring. On this occasion, the general public was invited to stroll through the exceptional setting of France’s oldest botanical garden to explore the grounds, meet botanical experts, and visit numerous nonprofit booths. The event also offered visitors the chance to discover two art exhibitions and attend lectures on botany.
We will keep you informed of any potential postponement of the event.
