Crossed views on William the Conqueror

Itinerant multimedia exhibition "Crossed Views on William the Conqueror: Illuminations by Anastasia Lobanova & Photographs by Fedor Bakulin"

“A sensory journey between contemporary Normandy and medieval heritage”
What if the Bayeux Tapestry had taken the form of an illuminated manuscript from the 11th century? The exhibition explores this hypothesis by combining illuminations, contemporary photography, and immersive sound creation, to offer an immersion in the universe of William the Conqueror, a thousand years after his time.

The series “If the Bayeux Tapestry Were a Manuscript…” arises from the vision of Anastasia Lobanova. After more than fifteen years dedicated to the design and production of cultural projects and documentary films internationally, she settled in Normandy in 2022 in search of a new artistic language, which combines historical research and medieval illumination techniques, learned notably from Astrid Bertrand. Created using ancient methods — parchment, pigments, tempera, gold leaf — her works transpose the scenes of the Tapestry into imaginary pages, accompanied by texts calligraphed in Caroline minuscule. The whole constitutes an interpretation faithful to the spirit of the work, without being a reproduction.

In dialogue, Fedor Bakulin, director of photography and photographer, whose documentary films have been broadcast notably by ARTE and YLE and integrated into the collections of the National Library of France (BnF) and Harvard University, presents the photographic series “Normandy. In the Footsteps of William the Conqueror.” His work explores places marked by Norman history — buildings, landscapes, heritage sites — in an approach blending documentary and poetic evocation.

The journey is enriched by an original sound creation and highlights the crafts related to the book, which are now rare. Demonstrations of illumination accompany the exhibition, showcasing ancient know-how in a contemporary context.

Designed as a traveling device, the exhibition will continue its journey in Europe after several presentations in Normandy and is supported by specialists in heritage and the museum world.

“These are two projects that combine scientific rigor and creative originality.”
Honorary Director of the University Office for Norman Studies
University of Caen Normandy
“This encounter has demonstrated all its technicality and the quality of its art.
Her approach is an original valorization of the embroidery that inspired her. That's why we proposed to Ms. Lobanova to integrate her work into the permanent exhibit of the future Bayeux Tapestry Museum, which will open around 2027. Her work will thus find a place at the heart of the institution's display.
Ms. Lobanova's work deserves to be discovered by the general public.”
Clémentine Paquier-Berthelot, Documentary Program Manager - Bayeux Tapestry Museum
“...a contemporary vision of the book arts inherited from the medieval period and will highlight the beauty and fragility of the transmission of traditional know-how.”
Chief Heritage Curator
Director of the Museum of Fine Arts and Lace

Practical information:
All audiences

Free

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