After Les Baux-de-Provence, Hossegor and Courchevel, Joséphine Fossey accompanies Iconic House to the Luberon, designing the artistic concept for a Provencal castle nestled in the hills above Gordes

To design a unique experience, Joséphine Fossey began by delving into the history of this village - the isolation, light, mineral beauty and landscapes that have inspired and charmed artists throughout the years. André Lhote was one of the first to fall under the region's spell. Jean Deyrolle, Serge Poliakoff, and photographers Willy Ronis and Izis followed.

The impact of Gordes on Victor Vasarely's work was of particular interest to Joséphine Fossey. The discovery of the village - the power of the light, the verticality of the place - provoked a real sensory shock in the artist, resulting in an evolution of his style towards abstraction, starting from direct observation of nature to translate it into pure, abstract, moving forms. 

Illusion, movement, perception - these notions dear to the optical and kinetic art movements have guided the artistic signature of the property. It’s this link between locality and humanity, nature and art, real and imaginary that Joséphine Fossey wanted to explore by inviting painters, sculptors and local craftsmen to engage in dialogue through works that form a veritable artistic journey both indoors and outdoors.

Les Hauts de Gordes, an Artistic Journey

Away from the crowds and glare, Les Hauts de Gordes offers guests perfect privacy and spectacular views over the valley, in a setting designed by interior architect Jérémie du Chaffaut. It's an opportunity for Joséphine Fossey to build up a collection of singular works, some of them monumental and specially commissioned, that guide visitors in the discovery of a place by reflecting a certain sensitivity to light and movement, questioning perception.

The exterior is a showcase for bespoke installations. As soon as you enter, the painted metal gate by artist Gaultier Rimbault-Joffard sets the tone, with material and light vibrating. It's the first kinetic work on the journey, an invitation to discover the rest of the property bit by bit. In the garden, Charles Kalpakian's geometric mirror sculpture reflects the sky and the infinity of the surrounding landscape, blurring the boundary between real and imaginary. A little further on, the pool itself becomes a work of art: Joséphine Fossey called on Robin Vermeersch, an artist fascinated by visual language and the notion of perception, who, in association with the Belgian collective "Ceci n'est pas une piscine", drew a graphic and linear motif evolving with the movements of the water. On the terrace, the duo of Atelier Felicita, in collaboration with Sonia Rinaldi, were given the task of revising the concept of the orientation table in a contemporary way. Solid colors and a line drawing in enamelled lava represent the surroundings on three-tiered wooden structures, functioning as a triptych.

Inside, Victor Marqué has created six bespoke sculptures in totemic forms and drawings reminiscent of Vasarely's work, exploring both 2D and 3D. Photos by Ilka Kramer and Yosigo rub shoulders with works by Jesus Perea, and respond to objects found through Provencal antique dealers. Each piece plays with movement, light, verticality and optical effects. 

The artistic journey of Les Hauts de Gordes embodies Joséphine Fossey's approach: to look at each project as a human, collaborative adventure, to find the right balance between history and new chapter, vintage and contemporary, locality and cultural mix, to anchor yourself in an environment by making it your own.