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Key figures

Origin and history

The Centre d'Art Sacré de Lille is an exhibition space located in the modern crypt of Notre-Dame-de-la-Treille Cathedral in Lille. It mainly houses the Delaine collection, a series of contemporary works centered on the Passion of Christ, collected by Gilbert Delaine from 1985 onwards. These works, made by international artists, explore human suffering through an artistic interpretation of the Gospel narrative, mixing figurative, abstract and conceptual currents.

The Delaine collection, composed of more than 124 pieces (paintings, sculptures, photographs, enamels, stained glass), was created following an order by Gilbert Delaine to friendly artists, inviting them to translate their vision of the Passion. First presented in Paris in 1989, she travelled around the world (Italy, Poland, Belgium, Germany, Taiwan) before being given to the diocese of Lille in 1996. Its originality lies in its artistic diversity and its universal dimension, transcending religious boundaries.

The centre was inaugurated in 2003 in the rough concrete crypt of the cathedral, designed in the 1930s by architect Michel Vilain. The underground space, stripped and artificially illuminated, offers an atmosphere conducive to meditation. After a closure in 2008, the centre reopened in 2013 under its current name, offering temporary exhibitions and cultural events such as Les Nuits de la Crypte, centered on suffering and humanity.

Since 2016, the Centre d'Art Sacré de Lille has expanded its mission by welcoming local artists and exploring other representations of the sacred. He is in keeping with Gilbert Delaine's approach, marked by his own experience of suffering and his quest for meaning. Each year, artists' collectives are invited to work on the theme of Passion, combining visual arts, music and dance, especially during Holy Week.

The crypt architecture, with its apparent concrete and minimalist lighting, reinforces the visitor's immersion. The place symbolizes a "downhill in itself", contrasting with the natural light of the cathedral. The collection, although sometimes controversial, remains an invitation to reflect on the human condition, beyond individual beliefs. The centre asserts itself as a place for dialogue between art, faith and contemporary culture.

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