An extraordinary immersive exhibition featuring the works of Benjamin Lacombe, one of the most prominent figures in contemporary French illustration, has opened at the historic Collégiale Saint-Martin in Angers, France. The 43-year-old artist, who has authored and illustrated around fifty books with more than three million copies sold worldwide, is presenting over a hundred original drawings in a breathtaking multimedia experience.
The exhibition, titled "Songes de papier" (Paper Dreams), transforms the thousand-year-old Merovingian church into a wonderland where visitors encounter Lacombe's distinctive artistic universe. The immersive display features his reinterpretation of classic childhood stories, including Alice in Wonderland, where a frightened rabbit meets a mermaid gently rocked by waves, all rendered with Lacombe's signature delicate extravagance and magical innocence.
Visitors have been captivated by the unique experience, with one woman describing it as "wonderful, it makes us dream," while another appreciated "this border of the strange" that characterizes Lacombe's work. The artist's technical mastery combines with the curious eye of an eternal child, creating a prolific body of work that has achieved international acclaim.
Lacombe himself explains his creative approach: "I really let my interpretation take action, what I feel from the character and what the descriptions bring to me. What I want is for there to be another narration through the image, for it to bring us other sensations and somewhere lead to another reading, another literary journey." His philosophy centers on creating visual narratives that complement and expand upon written stories, offering viewers new perspectives and emotional experiences.
The choice of venue adds another layer of magic to the exhibition. The Collégiale Saint-Martin, a jewel of Merovingian architecture, provides a monumental setting that enhances the depth and impact of Lacombe's artwork. "There is a magical dimension," the artist reflects. "These centuries-old, even thousand-year-old stones speak to us and somehow they react to each exhibition differently, and that's what gives all the magic to this particular place, to these lights, and seeing my work here is very moving."
The exhibition offers more than just a visual experience – it engages multiple senses, including an olfactory component that culminates in the church's ancient crypt. This final journey creates a haunting image that lingers in visitors' minds, providing a complete sensory immersion into Lacombe's artistic world.
"Songes de papier" invites visitors to dive deep into Lacombe's rich universe, exploring themes ranging from childhood and fairy tales to nature and Japan through more than one hundred original works. The exhibition demonstrates how illustration can transcend its traditional boundaries to become high art, worthy of being displayed in one of France's most historic and sacred spaces.
The immersive exhibition will remain open to the public until February 1, 2026, at the Collégiale Saint-Martin in Angers, offering art lovers and families alike the opportunity to experience the magical intersection of contemporary illustration and ancient architecture.
