As an extension of the exhibition The Monkey and the Clay – dedicated to interspecies relations – the Fondation has invited Studio BehaghelFoiny to conceive a hybrid space: The Planctonarium.

Designed as a dedicated hub for public engagement and situated at the end of the exhibition circuit, this immersive environment invites visitors to embrace a slower pace and extend their visit. Comfortably appointed, the space fosters a spirit of reading and relaxation, while simultaneously providing a dedicated setting for participation in artistic workshops.

This multifaceted space showcases the work of emerging designer Antoine Behaghel and his ongoing research into ‘Chlorophyllian Artifices’: a dive into the microscopic world of phytoplankton blooms. This vernal biological phenomenon is characterised by the sudden proliferation of phytoplankton in the ocean, regenerating the atmosphere we breathe through the photosynthesis performed by these microorganisms. Within this installation, the silhouettes of phytoplankton are reinterpreted and magnified, embodied as objects levitating within a chromatic atmosphere; the work submerges us in the oceanic ‘water column’, a space where above and below, the intimate and the distant, begin to dissolve.

The exhibition presents a series of ornamental pieces crafted by the designer using a wide array of artisanal techniques, including porcelain, tapestry, paper, and 3D printing. Beneath these suspended, luminous forms, the ‘Microscopists’ Table’ invites visitors to observe phytoplankton through a microscope and take part in hands-on artistic workshops.

Antoine Behaghelb – recipient of the 2024 COAL Student Prize for Art and Environment – will undertake a production residency at the Fondation in the autumn of 2026. Continuing his research in collaboration with the Marais d’Yves nature reserve (Charente-Maritime), he will develop a new series of glass works within the Fondation’s workshops. These pieces will be integrated into the exhibition upon their completion. Finally, he will lead a signature artistic workshop, ‘Ordinaire Extra!’, toward the end of the year.