Viviane Sassen: Venus & Mercury

Viviane Sassen (born 1972 in Amsterdam) studied art, fashion and photography at the London Royal Academy of Arts. In her colour photographs, the artist blends all of these influences into surreal scenes and abstract forms.

‘Venus & Mercury’ – which will occupy all of the rooms and gardens of the museum – draws inspiration from life at the French court in the 17th and 18th century. Stories of royal mistresses, fortune tellers and deadly intruiges are woven into melancholic narratives imbued with eroticism, power and decay. ‘Venus’ refers to the godess of love and lust, ‘Mercury’ to liquid quicksilver, which was used in the treatment of venereal diseases in the past.

The exhibition also includes multimedia installations, (some of which featuring recitals by Tilda Swinton), along with paint and collage-based artworks, posters and free-standing sculptures.

Update: The museum will remain closed until March 31st, 2020.

For further information visit Huis Marseille