It took two and a half years of reflection for the curator of the exhibition, Marc Benaïche, to imagine this new exhibition.Mystification. Architecture and cinema: the quest for illusion HAS”. Already at the origin of an exhibition in 2019 in this emblematic place, he returns with an ambitious project combining architecture, cinema et illusion. “I started from nostalgiaâ€he explains. “The idea was to offer a tribute to both cinema and architecture.†A choice perfectly suited to this exceptional site, designed in 1775 by the visionary architect Claude-Nicolas Ledoux.
An immersive journey around illusion, cinema and architecture
Installed in the Director’s House, the central building of La Saline, the exhibition offers a tour in five rooms. The visitor is invited to explore the link between two art forms that play with reality: “The exhibition is a singular and objective journey between architecture which deceives reality and cinema which is also built on illusion. The objective is to open a view on this relationship around mystification…underlines Marc Benaïche. Five rooms follow one another with a multitude of works and explanatory tables. Famous painter and sculptor, specializing in cinema, Claude Gazier exhibits some of these paintings which punctuate the visit. Some built in “wall anamorphosis” alone embody this illusion which deceives the visitor. The director of the Saline, Hubert Tassy, said to himself “honored to host this exhibition» and the diversity of the artists who contributed to it.
The Saline cellar open to the public: a first
Another highlight of the exhibition: the discovery of the cellar of the Director’s House, exceptionally open to the public after several months of rehabilitation. This space hosts an immersive tribute to the film “La Belle et la Bête“ by Jean Cocteau, filmed in 1945. The decoration, the sculptures, the flowers, the atmosphere, everything was designed by Juan-Pablo Molyneux, a great architect. The visitor has no other choice but to immerse himself in the very special universe of this 20th century cinematic monument. The most impressive place remains the reconstruction of the garden with a sculpted tree and realistic backdrops. A highlight of the visit, a hologram of the “Vouivre†specially created by students from the FEMTO Institute in Besançon, a nod to local know-how.
An exhibition accessible to all audiences
Architecture and cinema are two fields that are sometimes difficult to access for all audiences. However, Marc Benaïche wanted to build this journey around the quest for illusion, addressing both cinema and architecture lovers but also newbies. “The exhibition is very dense and complex but we have tried to give visitors the simplest and fairest access possible. HAS”. Children are not left out, notably with a collection of Lego constructions distributed throughout the rooms. Among them, an impressive ship inspired by Star Wars, the result of 100
hours of work, makes the link between futuristic architecture and popular culture. Another innovation, a digital version of Claude-Nicolas Ledoux, recreated using artificial intelligence, welcomes visitors. A room is also dedicated to video games, highlighting their growing place in our relationship to image and space.
Practical information
Exposition « Mystification. Architecture and cinema: the question of illusion »
Arc-et-Senans saltworks
You are 1 May 2026 or 28 February 2027
