On Saturday, May 30th, Rouen kicked off the 6th edition of Normandie Impressionniste with a spectacular evening that brought together more than 10,000 people in the Cathedral Square. For one night, the historic heart of the city was transformed into an open-air dance floor in front of a cathedral adorned with flowers.
Mika Ninagawa magnifies the cathedral
As night fell, the public was treated to " Wild Blossom," a monumental creation conceived by Japanese artist Mika Ninagawa and Hiroaki Miyata. Projected onto the façade of Rouen Cathedral, the display unfolded a vibrant visual universe composed of flowers, colors, and plays of light. The monumental images gradually enveloped the building, offering viewers an immersive experience that created a dialogue between the cathedral's Gothic architecture and a vibrant, contemporary aesthetic.
This creation, presented at the opening of the festival, offered a sensitive reinterpretation of the garden theme, at the heart of this new edition of Normandie Impressionniste.
The party continues with a DJ set by Barbara Butch
Following this monumental projection, the evening continued in a festive atmosphere with a DJ set by Barbara Butch. A key figure in the French electronic music scene, the artist kept the Cathedral Square vibrating until late into the night. Facing a cathedral still adorned with flowers and lights, the public filled the public space to share a moment of dance, connection, and collective celebration.
This great popular festival fully embodied the spirit of Impressionist Normandy: to bring artistic disciplines into dialogue, to utilize emblematic locations in the region and to offer cultural experiences open to the widest possible audience.
The success of this evening also testifies to the mobilization of numerous partners and stakeholders in the region. Normandie Impressionniste warmly thanks the Rouen Normandy Metropolitan Area, with whom this evening was organized, as well as the City of Rouen and Rouen Tourism for their commitment to making this event a reality.
The festival extends special thanks to ETRIA, whose support made it possible to offer the public this great artistic and festive event, not forgetting the artists, technical teams, partners and all those involved in making this evening a highlight of this new edition.
The experience continues throughout the summer with Cathedral of Light, programmed until September 26, 2026 on the facade of the cathedral with the projection of First Impression and Wild Blossom, in two loops with a total duration of approximately 50 minutes.
