As the 6th edition of Normandie Impressionniste has just ended, here's a look back at one of the festival's highlights: Radiance of Spring: Sky Painting for Normandie Impressionniste, a monumental creation by Cai Guo-Qiang, curated by Philippe Platel..
On Sunday, May 31, 2026, nearly 15,000 spectators gathered on the banks of the Seine in Vernon to witness this exceptional performance, specially conceived by the internationally renowned artist for the opening weekend of Normandie Impressionniste.
A regular at major international cultural institutions, Cai Guo-Qiang created a spectacular work for the festival inspired by Claude Monet and the landscapes of Giverny. For nearly 30 minutes, the sky above Vernon became the canvas for a vast ephemeral painting, composed of shapes, colors, and movements.
The performance unfolded in a succession of eight aerial tableaux, blending a choreography of 1,000 drones with the pyrotechnic effects of Groupe F. Inspired by the world of Claude Monet, the different sequences brought to life in the sky evocations of The Haystacks, Woman with a Parasol, The Poppy Field, Blue and Rose, Green and Violet, Lavender, Monochrome and The Brightness of Day.
Excerpts from this historic performance were later featured in Radiance of Spring at Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey, from May 29 to August 31.
Relive Sky Painting in pictures
To mark the end of the 6th edition of the festival, discover or rediscover this performance which marked the opening weekend of Normandie Impressionniste 2026.
Normandie Impressionniste thanks Cai Guo-Qiang and his studio, Groupe F, the Department of Eure, the City of Vernon, as well as all the teams involved and the 15,000 spectators who came to share this exceptional moment.
- Filming: Qifan Yang, courtesy of Cai Studio
- Editing: Aktua Prod
