 Exterior view of the Maison Gainsbourg | |
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| Established | 20 September 2023 |
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| Location | 14, Rue de Verneuil, Paris, France |
| Type | Museum dedicated to Serge Gainsbourg |
| Website | maisongainsbourg.fr |
The Maison Gainsbourg, located in Paris, is a museum dedicated to the artist Serge Gainsbourg. It is composed of two spaces: 5 bis rue de Verneuil with Serge Gainsbourg's family home between 1969 and 1991, and 14 rue de Verneuil with a museum, a bookstore-boutique and the Gainsbarre bar. [1]
In 1967, Serge Gainsbourg bought the former stables, converted into shops, of the private mansion located at 5bis rue de Verneuil in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. He transformed the premises into a home and lived there with his family from 1969 until his death on 2 March 1991. The house then became the property of his daughter Charlotte Gainsbourg. In February 2018, she declared that she wanted to create a museum in this family home. [2] A building permit was issued at the end of 2020, Jane Birkin specified that the premises had been preserved in their condition since Serge Gainsbourg's death; in particular, the objects had not moved. In November 2021, the Maison Gainsbourg was classified as a Patrimoine d'intérêt régional and received financial support from the Île-de-France region to the tune of 600,000 euros. [3]
With a surface area of 130 m2, visits are limited to 30 minutes on average with an audio experience that accompanies visitors. The house is spread over two levels. On the ground floor, a small kitchen adjoins the living room. This contains objects and works of art collected by Serge Gainsbourg, including the sketch of La chasse aux papillons by Salvador Dalí, the sculpture L'Homme à la tête de chou by Claude Lalanne and the original manuscript of La Marseillaise . Upstairs, Serge Gainsbourg's office and decorated bedrooms, including one that displays a collection of old dolls. [4]
In addition to the family home, a museum, chronologically presenting works by Serge Gainsbourg, and a bookstore-boutique, are located at 14 rue de Verneuil. The Gainsbarre is a café during the day and becomes a piano bar in the evening, in memory of Gainsbourg's artistic beginnings, who was then a pianist at Flavio's in Le Touquet. [5]
The interior of the house appears in the documentary film Jane by Charlotte released in 2021, as well as in the music video Lying with you by Charlotte Gainsbourg, released in 2017. [6]
The opening to the public has been effective since 20 September 2023. On 2 April 2024 Charlotte Gainsbourg and her son Ben Attal, in the company of Rachida Dati, unveiled the plaque of the Maison des illustres label which was awarded to the house. [7]
Serge Gainsbourg was a French singer-songwriter, actor, composer, and director. Regarded as one of the most important figures in French pop, he was renowned for often provocative releases which caused uproar in France, dividing public opinion. His artistic output ranged from his early work in jazz, chanson, and yé-yé to later efforts in rock, zouk, funk, reggae, and electronica. Gainsbourg's varied musical style and individuality make him difficult to categorise, although his legacy has been firmly established and he is often regarded as one of the world's most influential popular musicians.
Jane Mallory Birkin was a British-French actress and singer. She had a prolific career as an actress, mostly in French cinema.
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