The Palais Royal Metro station in Paris is unusual with its large colorful pearls… It was not unanimously acclaimed when it was inaugurated in 2000…

For the centenary of the Paris metro

There are around 300 metro stations in Paris. One has clearly stood out from the others since the year 2000 (centenary of the Paris metro): it is the Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre station (lines 7 and 1). When you pass by, it’s impossible to miss its large colored pearls which form a dome above the heads of users. The entrance to the Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre station, inaugurated in October 2000 and created under the direction of the artist Jean-Michel Othoniel, aroused as many comments as the creations of Hector Guimard in their time.

Made of Murano glass

In this “Noctambules” Kiosk, two crowns made of Murano glass and aluminum, one in warm tones (yellow and red), the other in cold tones (blue and white), represent day and night .. The Kiosque des Noctambules is a colorful madness designed to welcome the flow of passengers as an enchanted break from the hysteria of the city. This creation brings a baroque touch to the decor of historic Paris, an unusual touch highlighted by the classic architecture of Place Colette. Jean-Michel Othoniel, the creator of this work, was born in 1964, and is an artist known for his poetic and grandiose works. He has exhibited numerous giant necklaces and delicate constructions such as: “Landscape of Love” (1997), “The Infinite Necklace” (1998), “The Fountain of Pleasure and Tears” (2001), “Necklace of Paradise” (2002). ), “Golden Rain” (2002), “The Boat of Tears” (2004), “The Crown of Upturned Hearts”, “The Utopian Mast” (2004) and many others. The Kiosque des Noctambules was first nicknamed “L’Impertinente”.