The Center for Visual Arts in Royan is currently hosting an extensive exhibition featuring numerous paintings by Christian Gardair, a renowned artist who has made the Gironde estuary his primary artistic inspiration. The exhibition will remain open to the public until November 16, 2025, offering visitors a comprehensive look at the painter's distinctive interpretation of the French coastal landscape.
The exhibition represents a significant milestone for the center's new director, Fausto Mata, who assumed his position in April 2025. Mata has taken full ownership of this inaugural exhibition, describing it as his "baptism by fire" in his new leadership role. The director has personally championed this showcase from start to finish, working closely with Gardair to bring the artist's vision to the gallery space.
Christian Gardair has established himself as a painter deeply connected to the Gironde estuary, treating this expansive waterway as his artistic playground. His works capture the unique beauty and character of this coastal region, where the Garonne and Dordogne rivers meet the Atlantic Ocean. The artist's intimate relationship with this landscape is evident throughout the collection on display.
Mata emphasizes that the exhibition is particularly worthwhile for visitors who share the artist's deep attachment to the estuary region. The collaboration between the new director and Gardair, whom Mata refers to as his "friend," reflects a personal investment in showcasing art that celebrates the local maritime heritage and natural beauty of the area.
