Non-European Art at the Musée des Confl uences The Story of a Museum Project and a Very “Lyonese” Collection Interview by Elena Martínez-Jacquet On December 20, 2014, the Musée des Confl uences in Lyon, a lengthy development 70 project sponsored by the Rhône department, opened its doors to the public. Situated at the confl uence of the Rhône and Saône rivers, the museum’s monumental glass and steel architecture designed by Coop Himmelb(l)au, which is known for its deconstructed designs, features an entryway called “The Crystal” that opens onto the city and a space dedicated to the collection and special exhibitions called “The Cloud.” The Musée des Confl uences incorporates many fi elds of knowledge in its multidisciplinary investigation of the world around us, and it has elicited a strongly positive response from a wide audience. This institution has been back in the cultural news headlines recently thanks to an exhibition titled Une Fenêtre sur les Confl uences (A Window on the Confl uences) that was presented at the Atelier Martine Aublet of the Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac in Paris until May 21 of this year. This was the brainchild of Hélène Lafont-Couturier, who has been the Confl uences’ director since 2012, and it presented an intimate portrait of a dynamic institution that carries a taste for cultural exchange in its very DNA. The discourse of this ambitious institution is based primarily on its signifi cant non-European collection. Marie Perrier, who is in charge of FIG. 1 (top): Exterior view of the Musée des Confl uences at night. © Quentin Lafont, 2015 – Musée des Confl uences, Lyon. FIG. 2 (above): Pig (babirusa) skull. Sulawesi, Indonesia. Early 19th century. Skull with red lacquer and gold. H: 15 cm. Acquired before 1834. Musée des Confl uences, inv. 60003522. © Musée des Confl uences, Lyon. ART on view
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